THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Baldwin of Slough, whose books were always as open to me as 

 his house, whose tick was as good as his wine was bad. Then, 

 passing by Eton — for I was sick of that place, and all its host 

 of learned tyrants — what can beat old Shrubb,^ at Benson, and 

 a good dinner in No. 8 ? But I am not going to stop there. 

 Can I forget Christchurch, and the happy days I passed within 

 its walls ? They never have been surpassed by any others, and 

 I more than doubt whether they ever will be. I am now, how- 

 ever, travelling in a new direction, and shall meet with none 

 but new faces on the road. But so it is : and there are the nags 

 all ready for us in tlie street, and we will change quickly, that 

 we may get a good place on the course.' 



Not ten minutes had elapsed before they were off again, 

 having ordered a dinner at the ' Bush ' to be ready for them 

 on their return, some particular dishes having been bespoke 

 by the in-sides. ' What a splendid team you have got here, 

 Inkleton,' said the Captain, as they threw themselves into their 

 collars, in ascending the hill out of Egham, appearing to 

 regard the weight of the carriage and its contents as nothing 

 more than was just necessary to the full development of their 

 great powers and form. In fact, on the flat between the two 

 towns, it was as much as Sir John could do to restrain their 

 ardour, so redundant did they feel themselves of high keep and 

 mettle. 



' They ought to be good,' replied the Baronet ; ' those 

 leaders cost me two hundred guineas apiece, and the wheelers 

 more than two-tliirds of that sum. There will be nothing on 

 the road to-day that can touch them, if they would settle down 

 to the trot, but, from the eflect of the excitement of a race- 

 course, so new to them, there is little chance of their doing so. 

 All I can hope for, is, that they will not break away with me, 

 on our return from the ground ; but I have little fear of it, as 

 my tackle is good.' 



On entering Windsor great park — one of the grandest the 

 world can show — the conversation was resumed about Eton, 

 whose ' anti(|ue towers ' were now visible to the party ; and 

 to those who had been educated there some old associations 

 presented themselves. 



' Yonder is the old shop,' said the Baronet to Hargrave. 



* The landlord'.s name, at the head inn, 



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