THE RIVAL CRUSOES;
ARTHUR RIDLEY;
THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE.
"George! Harry!—lazy fellows that you are!—Why are you not inattendance?" said Lord Robert Summers in an angry tone, throwing therein of his pony to his grooms, and rushing up the great staircase withhis handkerchief held close to his face.
"What is the matter with our young lord to-day?" said Harry; "he seemsin a marvellous ill mood."
"I suppose he has had another brush with Philip Harley to-day: did notyou see the blood on his handkerchief?" said the other.
"That Philip is a saucy young rascal," replied Harry; "but he will gethimself into a scrape before long. Lord Robert will be even with him, Iwill answer; for he never takes an offence without returningtwenty-fold."
"They never meet now without a battle," returned the groom. "Lord Roberthas been so used to domineer over men twice his age, on board ship, thathe is more unbearable than any young man of rank I ever served. I wonderwho is to put up with all his tempers? If his elder brother, my younglord, were half so hasty with his hands, or so flippant with his tongue,I would leave his service to-morrow: however, he wont be with uslong—that's my comfort. It was but the other day I was airing the dogs,and trod, by accident, on his favourite Neptune's toe. The plaguy beastset up a yell. In an instant, I had a cuff of the head from the youngtyrant, and was called a careless rascal and scoundrel, while he hadbreath to heap such epithets on me. I am glad the lad has given him adressing, and wish it had been twice as much; it might have done himgood."
With this wish, George led off the pony. The fact was, Lord Robert hadcaught Philip Harley trespassing, according to custom, in the Park, andhad tried to horsewhip him out of the grounds, but had fairly got theworst of it. Lord Robert, though a stout and courageous youth, waspulled off his horse by the desperate young rustic, and in the frayreceived several contusions on the face. Philip did not part withoutsome tokens of his enemy's vengeance; but he certainly remained victorin the contest. Lord Robert was glad to regain his pony and make a hastyretreat, much mortified, and in a very evil temper.
When he had reached his apartment, he washed the blood from his face,and composed the swelling of his haughty spirit; and after smoothing hisruffled plumes, he descended into the dining-room and joined the familyparty. His mother made some inquiry respecting the bruises on his face;but he turned it off with an evasive answer, as the effect of a fall hehad met with in the Park. No farther notice was taken, except a slightsarcasm on the proverbial bad horsemanship of sailors.
At the dessert, the Marquis, his father, handed him a letter. "It isfrom your uncle, Sir Henry. See, Robert, what a charming surprise he hasprepared for you! He spoils you, boy! I think you would not be sopetulant and