82 Srtuo CoptriS. 



" Then, young man," continued Mr. B., eyeing 

 him sternly, and speaking with great dehberation — 

 at the same time transferring a florin from and to 

 their respective pocl<ets — " 'ow his it as your master 

 is a-sacrificing a waluable young 'oss hke this for 

 forty-five guineas ? " 



" Well, you see, sir" (and the groom never winced 

 under the old man's gaze, but lied for all the world 

 like truth*) " it's a thousand pities, but he just does 

 this a bit " — at the same time imitating with his 

 mouth a sound which most horse owners have heard 

 more often than they could have wished. 



" A roarer, is he — the devil ;" and having jerked 

 the above remark out somewhat testily, and also 

 muttered sundry other words, which I need not 

 re-produce here, off bundled old B. in search of the 

 aggrieved W., who, anticipating his movements, 

 almost ran into his arms as he turned out of the 

 stable door. "Young man," said Mr. B., soothingly, 

 at the same time placing his hand in almost a paternal 

 manner upon his shoulder, "it ain't no manner of use 

 you and I a-falling out over a blooming 'oss ; I've 

 been a-looking at him, and find, moreover, as he 

 ain't so big by 'arf an inch as I laid 'im at, and 

 consequently, nice 'oss as he is, he won't match the 



* If this should meet the eye of a certain M. P., I assure him no insult 

 was intended. 



