"Nine Yorkshire jockeys knocked into one couldn't blind him on a
horse," said young Horton.
"And I'll lay a guinea he'll lead in every hunting field."
"And they do say, he's a first-rate scholar besides."
Such conversations regarding him were indefinitely repeated, and
varied.
When he was in his eighteenth year the estate was absolutely free of
every claim, and in a condition which reflected the greatest credit
upon those in whose care it had been placed. It was at this time that
Richard and Elizabeth took the young man into his grandfather's room,
and laid before him the title deeds of his patrimony and the schedule
of its various incomes. Then, also, they told him, with infinite
kindness and forbearance, the story of his father's efforts and
failures, and the manner in which the estate had been handled, so that
it might be made over to him free of all debt and stain.
Harry said very little. His adopted parents liked him the better for
that. But he was profoundly amazed and grateful. Then he went to
Cambridge, and for three years Elizabeth did not see him. It had
been arranged, however, that the whole family should meet at Hallam
on the anniversary of his majority, and the occurrence was celebrated
with every public festivity that had always attended that event in
the Hallam family.
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