He had been called Andy by the late Sir Florian, and,
though every one else about the place called him Mr. Gowran, Lady Eustace
thought it became her, as the man's mistress, to treat him as he had been
treated by the late master. So she called him Andy. But she was resolved
to get rid of him, as soon as she should dare. There were things which it
was essential that somebody about the place should know, and no one knew
them but Mr. Gowran. Every servant in the castle might rob her, were it
not for the protection afforded by Mr. Gowran. In that affair of the
garden it was Mr. Gowran who had enabled her to conquer the horticultural
Leviathan who had oppressed her, and who, in point of wages, had been a
much bigger man than Mr. Gowran himself. She trusted Mr. Gowran and hated
him, whereas Mr. Gowran hated her, and did not trust her.
"I believe you think that nothing can be done at Portray except by that
man," said Lady Eustace.
"He'll know how much you ought to pay for the pony."
"Yes, and get some brute not fit for my cousin to ride, on purpose,
perhaps, to break his neck."
"Then I should ask Mr. Macallum, the postmaster of Troon, for I have seen
three or four very quiet-looking ponies standing in the carts at his
door.
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