Then Larry stood up, and came towards the table, against which he stayed himself with his hand.
’I beg your pardon, Uncle Taverner,’ he said in a voice somewhat tremulous, whilst colour came into and spotted his brow. ’I came here, though I thought you would not care to see me.’
’I don’t mind when I see your back,’ interrupted Langford surlily, ’your father insulted me grossly.’
’Ah! I suppose your father has sent you. He wants to patch up the quarrel; you may go back and tell him it is too late. I won’t make it up. It is of no use. I have nothing to lose by estrangement. You and he are the losers, and that to a heavy amount, as you shall learn some day.’
’I have not come with any message from my father.’
’You’ve come for yourself, have you? You think that Langford would be a fine farm for the growth of wild oats? You shan’t try it.’
’I came here of my own accord,’ said the young man. ’My father knows nothing of my purpose. I have come to tell you that I am very sorry for what I did,—what I did, I dare say you have not heard, as you have been away. You shall hear from me.’
’What have you done? Some foolery, I warrant.’
’Yes, uncle, something worse than foolery. The night you were away, and when we did not know but you were at Langford, there was a hare hunt before your doors.’
’There was a hare hunt, and I was in it. I took a principal part. I was thrown from my horse, and picked up unconscious, and the thing came to an end, it went no further. I have been badly hurt. I might have been killed.’
’And pray how came that about?’ asked the old man quivering with anger. ’A light from heaven—struck you to the ground, like Saul when breathing out threatenings and slaughters against the Elect? And now you’re a converted character, eh? and so think I’ll take you back into favour, and let you have Langford?’
’No, uncle. I do not know quite what it was threw me down. Don’t think me mad if I say it—but it seemed to me to be old Wellon rising from the cairn and rushing down on me, to strike me to the earth.’
’I tell you just what happened. I was riding in the hunt—more shame to me—and I had the horn to my lips, and was just by the Gibbet Hill, when my piebald stood bolt still, and shivered with fear, and all at once there came a yellow light out of the barrow, and a great black figure with flapping clothes about it and I remember no more.’
