Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 7, 1895 - Tales and Fantasies, Volume II

THE STORY OF A LIE
4 Young woman,' corrected Mr. Naseby.
' Yes, sir,' said the man, who had been unwilling
enough to gossip from the first, and was now cowed
by the effect of his communications on the master.
' Young woman, sir ! '
6 Had they luggage ? ' demanded the Squire.
' Yes, sir. '
Mr. Naseby was silent for a moment, struggling
to keep down his emotion, and he mastered it so far
as to mount into the sarcastic vein, when he was in
the nearest danger of melting into the sorrowful.
' And was this — this Van Dunk with them ? ' he
asked, dwelling scornfully on the name.
The servant believed not, and being eager to shift
the responsibility to other shoulders suggested that
perhaps the master had better inquire further from
George the stableman in person.
' Tell him to saddle the chestnut and come with
me. He can take the grey gelding; for we may
ride fast. And then you can take away this trash,'
added Mr. Naseby, pointing to the luncheon ; and
he arose, lordly in his anger, and marched forth upon
the terrace to await his horse.
There Dick's old nurse shrunk up to him, for the
news went like wildfire over Naseby House, and
timidly expressed a hope that there was nothing
much amiss with the young master.
' I '11 pull him through,' the Squire said grimly, as
though he meant to pull him through a threshing-
mill ; ' I '11 save him from this gang ; God help him
with the next ! He has a taste for low company,
360