The farm was a good one, and Drake gradually got interested in the
really splendid cattle which Sir William exhibited with the enthusiasm
of a breeder. The morning slipped away, but though Drake glanced at his
watch significantly now and again, Sir William would not let him go;
and at last he said: "What's your hurry, Vernon? Why not ride to Shallop with me? You could
look around the town while I'm on the bench--unless you care to step
into court and see how we administer justice--hah! hah! it's only a few
'drunk and disorderlies' or a case of assault that we get nowadays; or
perhaps a petty larceny--anyway, you will ride into the town with me,
and we will have a bit of lunch together at the Crown and Scepter. No, I
won't take any refusal! To tell you the truth, I want to have a chat
with you about that last bull I showed you."
Drake, thinking that it would be quicker to consent--that is to say, to
ride into Shallop and cut across the country to Shorne Mills, yielded;
the horses were brought round, and after Sir William had disposed of a
tankard of ale, by way of a good, old-fashioned stirrup cup, the two men
started.
Sir William talked and joked as they rode along, and Drake pretended to
listen, while in reality he continued his rehearsal of all he would say
to Nell when presently he should be by her side, with his arms round her
and her head on his breast.
It was market day at Shallop, and the usual crowd of pigs and sheep and
cattle, with their attendant drovers and farmers, blocked the streets.
Sir William pulled up occasionally, throwing a word to one and another,
but the two men reached the Town Hall at last, and Drake was just on the
point of remarking that he would be off, when he saw Sir William grow
very red in the face and very bulgy about the eyes, while at the same
time his big hand went in a helpless kind of fashion to his
old-fashioned neck stock.
Drake could not imagine what was the matter, and was still in the first
throes of amazement when Sir William suddenly swayed to and fro in the
saddle, and then fell across his horse's neck to the ground.
Drake was off his horse in a moment, and had raised the old man's head
as quickly. A crowd collected almost as rapidly as if the place had been
London, and cries of "Dear, dear! it's Sir William! it's a fit! Fetch a
doctor!" rose from all sides.