Secrets of the prison-house, or, Gaol studies and sketches . s a hunter, but whichit was no pleasure for him to ride, and which he wasanxious to be well rid of, but no one would buy. Her brother, who was one of the helpers, lookedafter this brute, a tall, watery chestnut with a switchtail, and both hated and feared it. One day, aftera more than usually ignominious adventure with thehorse, in which he had been kicked off three timesin quick succession, the lad, in reply to his sisterstaunts, dared her to ride it. The same night, without one word, she crept outof the house dressed in her brother
Secrets of the prison-house, or, Gaol studies and sketches . s a hunter, but whichit was no pleasure for him to ride, and which he wasanxious to be well rid of, but no one would buy. Her brother, who was one of the helpers, lookedafter this brute, a tall, watery chestnut with a switchtail, and both hated and feared it. One day, aftera more than usually ignominious adventure with thehorse, in which he had been kicked off three timesin quick succession, the lad, in reply to his sisterstaunts, dared her to ride it. The same night, without one word, she crept outof the house dressed in her brothers best suit,abstracted the stable key, saddled the horse herself,mounted him without assistance, and, bold as aMexican horse-thief, galloped gaily away. She took JOSEPHINE OFFERS TO SELL THE HORSE. 337 the road to Harchester, ten miles distant, and, reach-ing the old cathedral town too early to dispose of thehorse, pressed on another ten miles to Hawksfield. There she sought some livery stables, and offeredto sell him for a song. The price she asked was so. Offered to sell him foe. a song. ridiculously low—five pounds—that the dealer guessedwhat was wrong. He detained the horse, and sentfor the police. Lady Sarah Furnival was a kindly, philanthropic VOL. II. 338 SECRETS OF THE PRISON-HOUSE. woman, who took deep interest in the people aroundher, especially the Winter family. When she heardof Josephines escapade she was greatly concerned forthe girl, whom she thought guilty of nothing morethan flio-htiness and bravado. So when the stolenhorse was safely sent back to the Crewkerne stables,she urged her husband to let the silly child off aseasily as possible. There had been no real intentionto steal, and now restitution had been made. Surelythe matter might be dropped ? But Mr. Furnival took a sterner view of the was a magistrate, and bound to uphold the law—to see that those who broke it met with their Josephine was sent for trial at the assizes, wherethe
Size: 1512px × 1652px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1894
