'The Trotter, 



129 



of, so few seen. Little did they think that " Patty Morgan," whose 

 name they were often to see afterwards at the top of the poll, 

 was then and there standing quietly in the shafts under their 

 very noses. But we did not neglect her education for all this. 

 Twice a week we had her out on our " convincing ground j" and 

 often in the grey twilight of morning, or in the deep, full, quiet 

 moonlight, the labourer going out to his day's work, or the jolly 

 farmer on his way home from the neighbouring market, would be 

 startled by the thundering clatter of hoofs as Miss Morgan and her 

 schoolmaster came rattling by him at a pace which hardly gave him 

 time to pull up and turn round before we were out of sight. 



I was not quite certain on what stage the new actress should 

 make her dthut, and this, like many otlier more important events in 

 our lives, was decided by accident. I very rarely rode the mare out 

 by daylight, and if perchance I did, I took good care that no one 

 should ever fancy she could trot -, and notwithstanding all their sus- 

 picions that I had something or other a little better than common, 

 not one, even of my oldest associates, knew anything about the capa- 

 bilities of my new mare. But my whole life, during the first three 

 months I owned that mare, was one of prevarication 3 and glad 

 enough was I when the day arrived that all further secrec;y was un- 

 necessary, and Miss Patty Morgan was brought out at the tenth 

 milestone on the Nottingham road, and her colours — Lincoln green 

 and white sleeves — hoisted in defiance of all comers. 



I had ridden her over one day to see a friend who resided at a 

 few miles' distance, and I did not leave his house till latish in the 

 evening. There was no moon, still it was not dark 5 but it was 

 towards the end of September, and the twilight bore that haziness 

 which is so peculiar to an English autumn evening. I was riding very 

 gently along the crown of the road, for I had it all to myself, when 

 I presently heard the rattle of wheels, and the clatter of hoofs be- 

 hind me. The mare pricked up her ears, and with a sharp " Hi !"^ 

 there shot by me a gig (in which sat two men), drawn by a horse 

 which, as far as I could then observe, appeared to be one of the 

 most magnificent steppers I had ever seen. They came upon me 



