Lord Erymanth would go with Eustace the
next morning to identify it; but what would be the use of that?
Eustace at first fancied he could claim it, but soon he saw that his
proposal was viewed as so foolish that he devoured it, and talked of
giving an equivalent; but, as Lord Erymanth observed, it would be
very difficult to arrange this with an article of family and
antiquarian value, in the hands of an archery club--an impersonal
body.
"The thing would be to win it," said Viola. "Could not some of us?"
"Well done, little Miss Tell," returned Dermot. "Hippo has won that
same belt these four years, to my certain knowledge, except once,
when Laurie Stympson scored two more."
"I'll practise every day; won't you, Lucy? And then, between us,
there will be two chances."
"I am sure I am very much nattered by Miss Tracy's kindness," put in
Eustace; "but is the match solely between ladies?"
No, for the last two years, after a match between ladies and between
gentlemen, there had a final one taken place between the two winners,
male and female, in which Hippo had hitherto always carried off the
glory and the belt. So Eustace intimated his full intention of
trying for himself, endeavouring to be very polite to Viola and me,
but implying that he thought himself a far surer card, boasting of
his feats as a marksman in the Bush, until Dora broke in, "Why,
Eustace, that was Harry; wasn't it, Harry?"
"Comme a l'ordinaire," muttered Dermot.
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