THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Now, were it not for the well-known rapidity with whicli 

 the Messrs. Tattersall dispose of the commencement of their 

 sales, to make way for more business-like proceedings, it might 

 be difficult to reconcile or account for the following fact, though 

 fact it surely be. 



' Pray, sir,' said a countrified-looking man to Mr. Verner, 

 in about ten minutes after the purchase had been made, and 

 as all the party were on the road to the large stable, to which 

 the}'- supposed the ' useful-looking pony ' was returned till 

 claimed — ' have ye got a mon here to take away the coiv, or 

 nuist she 'bide where she is to-night ? ' ' The cow ! ' exclaimed 

 Mr. Verner, ' what cow ? ' 



' Why,' resumed the countryman, ' the nice black Alderney, 

 Mr. Tattersall knocked down to ye for eighteen pounds ; a 

 better creature for milk never had a pail put under her.' 



The case was exactly this : ' the useful-looking pony ' had 

 been disposed of, during the salutation between Mr. Verner 

 and his friends, and the Alderney cow had been the next lot 

 brought up. She was going for seventeen pounds, but for the 

 exchange of the wink and the nod just in the nick of time, 

 which consigned her to the possession of Mr. Verner. 



The evening preceding the day on which the young Rabys 

 were to repair to Eton, his uncle was addressed by Francis 

 with — ' By what coach do we go to Eton, to-morrow, 

 uncle ? ' 



' By the Windsor and Eton " True Blue," of course ; it will 

 put you down at your dame's door. But what makes you ask 

 the question ? ' 



' Why,' resumed Frank, ' Sir John Inkleton particularly 

 wished us to go by the Birmingham " Prince of Wales " coach, 

 which would put us down at Slough, where it changes horses, 

 and we should only have a mile to walk.' 



' But your luggage,' observed Mr. Raby, ' what is to become 

 of that ? ' 



' Oh ! ' continued Frank, ' Sir John said that old Baldwin, 

 who keeps the " Crown," at Slough, on our mentioning his name 

 to him, would send our luggage to Eton in a cart.' 



There nmst be some motive for all this, thought the uncle ; 

 something more than meets the ear. 'Come, tell me at once, 

 Francis, what is the reason for your wishing to go by that 

 Birmingham coach ? ' 



75 



