_JACK'S RESOLVE_
"I think you were rather severe on Jack," said Winifred as "the failure"
disappeared from view. "I am sure he has tried his best to find
something to do, he told me so."
"And you implicitly believe all the young rascal tells you," replied her
father smiling.
"He is truthful, at any rate, that is in his favour."
"I agree with you; I do not think Jack Redland would tell a
lie--unless----"
She looked at him archly.
"Unless it was to shield a woman."
"Ah!" she exclaimed, "and under such circumstances it would be
justifiable."
"Possibly; it depends on the circumstances. I do not think I was too
severe upon him, Win; he requires a spur to drive him along. I wish to
goodness he would do something."
"So do I."
"Are you very fond of him, little girl?"
She answered frankly that she was very fond of him indeed, and her
father was glad to hear her speak in this strain, it showed him she had
not lost her heart to him. He was anything but rich, but had his
daughter's happiness been at stake he would not have hesitated in
granting her desire.
The Downs was a comfortable old fashioned place, situated in one of the
most picturesque parts of Sussex. The property was not large, but being
so near to fashionable Brighton, the land was valuable, and more than
one tempting offer had been made to Sir Lester to part with it for
building purposes. The mere thought of The Downs estate being cut up by
jerry builders irritated him. His affairs would be in a very bad way
when he parted with the place for such a purpose. His house at Hove had
turned out a profitable investment; he could obtain double what he gave
for it some years ago, and if it came to parting with property that must
go first.
Sir Lester Dyke had been hampered from the commencement. His father had
spent every shilling he could manage to raise, and left his son a
multitude of debts and his affairs in chaos.
"Make a clean sweep of the lot," the lawyer had said, but Sir Lester,
who was young and sanguine, laughed the suggestion to scorn, and clung
to his property with grim determination. Luckily, he married a wife who
had a moderate fortune which she willingly handed over to him to assist
him in freeing the estate. Unfortunately, she died when his affairs were
commencing to assume something like order. This was a great blow to him,
but he bore it bravely and Winifred became the idol of his life.
He was fond of racing; his father, to his sorrow, had been before him,
but in a different way. His father gambled heavily; Sir Lester loved the
sport alone, and seldom put much money on his horses. His string was
trained at Lewes, on the famous Downs, and Jack Redland had ridden more
than one winner in the familiar black jacket with orange sleeves.
His love of country life was a sufficient inducement for him to remain
at The Downs for the greater part of the year, and Winifred was his
constant companion in his rides and walks. She rode well, and like her
father, preferred the Sussex hills and downs to the fascinations of
London life.
Sir Lester's favourite meetings were Brighton and Lewes, where he was
well known, and where the victories of his horses were always received
with much enthusiasm.
Winifred was popular in the neighbourhood, and young as she was, proved
a charming hostess, as soon as she left school. Her figure on horseback
was familiar at Brighton, and on the downs at Lewes, where she often
went with her father to see the horses at work.
Caleb Kenley, the trainer, was devoted to Sir Lester, and as for
Winifred, he could not do enough to please her whenever she visited him
at Newhaven Lodge. Although Sir Lester could not afford to pay him a
large salary, Caleb Kenley was contented, and a dozen horses were quite
as many as he cared to handle.
"It's all very well to have forty or fifty horses in your stables," he
said, "but no man can keep his eye on the lot, and I like to know what
all mine are doing. Sir Lester's a gentleman, and it is a pleasure to
train for a man of his stamp. He never grumbles when he loses, and when
he wins it's a treat to see the smile on his face. I'll stick to him as
long as he sticks to me, and the mere good luck he has the better I
shall be pleased."
Jack Redland was also in the trainer's good books. He knew Jack was
regarded as a failure, but in his opinion no man who could ride as he
did came under that category. When Jack won the Southdown Open Welter
Handicap on Topsy Turvy, Caleb declared no professional jockey could
have done as much.
"Davis rode him at Brighton," said the trainer, "and he ran a perfect
brute. With Mr. Redland up he behaved himself; he knew there was a rider
on his back. Failure is he! Bosh! he's only to take to the profession to
make a fortune."
Eager to impart his newly formed resolution to Sir Lester, Jack Redland
went to The Downs the following day.
"Winifred says I was rather hard on you yesterday," said Sir Lester,
"but as you have come again to-day I suppose you consider my remarks
were quite in order and to the point."
"They generally are," said Jack laughing.
"Dad says what he means as a rule," said Winifred smiling.
"I had an adventure after I left you last night," he said. "It actually
made me think."
"You don't say so!" exclaimed Sir Lester.
"Fact, I assure you. It was a mild sort of adventure, but it seems
likely to have serious consequences."
Winifred was interested, and eager to hear the news. Jack explained how
he met the gypsy woman, and what she said to him.
"I walked down to Hove later on and sat listening to the waves. The
sound seemed to affect me curiously, and I felt there might be some
truth in the woman's tale. I have done no good in England, perhaps in a
new country my luck may change, and I may find an occupation suited to
my tastes and abilities. I came over to-day to ask your advice, Sir
Lester. Do you think I ought to try my fortune abroad?"
Sir Lester glanced at his daughter. She was silent, and there was a
troubled look in her face. "She does not care to lose her old playmate,"
he thought.
"They say the man who fails at home will fail anywhere," he replied.