Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

THE NORTH SIDE OF GROSVENOR SQUARE. 373
William said that there was a thick fog near the river, but that
on the north side of the square it was pleasant. So Lady Ascot
said she would like a walk, if it were only for ten minutes, if he
would give her his arm; and out they went.
Mary and the children came out too, but they went into the
square. Lady Ascot and William walked slowly up and down
the pavement alone, for Lady Ascot liked to see the people.
Up and down the north side, in front of the house. At the
second turn, when they were within twenty yards of the west end
of the square, a tall man, with an umbrella over his shoulder, came
round the corner, and leant against the lamp-post. They both
knew him in an instant. It was Lord Ascot. He had not seen
them. He had turned to look at a great long-legged chestnut
that was coming down the street, from the right, with a human
being on his back. The horse was desperately vicious, but very
beautiful and valuable. The groom on his back was neither
beautiful nor valuable, and was losing his temper with the horse.
The horse was one of those horses vicious by nature, - such a
horse as Rarey (all honor to him) can terrify into submission for
a short time; and the groom was a groom, not one of our country lads, every one of whose virtues and vices have been discussed over and over again at the squire's dinner-table, or about
whom the rector has scratched his head, and had into his study
for private exhortation or encouragement. Not one of the minority. One of the majority, I very much fear. Reared like a dog
among the straw, without education, without religion, without
self-respect, - worse broke than the horse he rode. When I
think of all that was said against grooms and stable-helpers during the Rarey fever, I get very angry, I confess it. One man
said to me, "When we have had a groom or two killed, we shall
have our horses trealted properly." Look to your grooms, gentlemen, and don't allow such a blot on the fair fame of England as
the Newmarket stables much longer, or there will be a heavy
reckoning against you when the books are balanced.
But the poor groom lost his temper with the horse, and beat it
over the head. And Lord Ascot stayed to say, " Damn it all, man,
you will never do any good like that "; though a greater fiend on
horseback than Lord Ascot I never saw.
This gave time for Lady Ascot to say, " Come on, my dear
Ravenshoe, and let us speak to him." So on they went. Lord
Ascot was so busy looking at the horse and groom, that they got
close behind him before he saw them. Nobody being near, Lady
Ascot, with a sparkle of her old fun, poked him in the back with
her walking-stick. Lord Ascot turned sharply and angrily round,
with his umbrella raised for a blow.
When he saw who it was, he burst out into a pleasant laugh.