lthough they did not depart the George quite at sunrise, it was certainly far earlier than any of the young gentlemen were accustomed to, and having breakfasted on beef and ale (apart from Mr Tyrell, who had eyed this repast with a jaundiced eye and animadverted bitterly on those persons whose constitutions allowed them to behave in a fashion he described as indecent), they were soon bowling back along the way they had come.
It was a bright, fresh morning, and Sir Anthony, looking considerably more cheer ful than he had the night before, disgusted both his companions by humming an air and cheerfully commenting on the scenery. Receiving no answer to his various remarks, he lapsed into a silence which remained almost unbroken until they stopped for a luncheon, having already covered almost half their journey, and so good were the high steppers harnessed to the curricle for the second stage of the journey, that it was only just dusk as they wended their way through the city streets towards Sir Anthony’s lodging.
‘You won’t mind if I leave you here, Harr y? I will have to change before going to milady’s house. Tom, get the groom to take care of the horses, will you? I shan’t take you with me, but my man will arrange for some dinner for you, I daresay.’
‘Lord, Tony, you ain’t dashing off there now?’ cried Mr Tyrell.
‘Young Tom here’s a guest, man! What are you thinking of ?’
‘Well, you look after him then. He won’t mind, I know.’
Mr Griffin, hastily disclaiming any hold over his host’s time, took the reins thrust into his hand, and grinned at Mr Tyrell’s look of shocked disapproval.
‘Love, Harry, love. Wait until they have been married for a few years, he will return to sanity.’
Mr Tyrell eyed Sir Anthony’s retreating back,