26 THE LIFE OF A PtACEIIOFvSE. 



slirewd youtli with a pair of small, red ferrety eyes, " why his 

 long snakish neck will shove his nose in first." 



Mr. Eobert Top now mounted the hack assigned for his 

 special use, and, leading the way out of the great gates, swung 

 creaking back upon their hinges, I, conducted by Harry Dale, 

 followed him, while the rear was brought up by the two colts, 

 similarly guided as myself. 



It would be an injustice to our head groom not to describe 

 him minutely, when mounted upon the small, closely-knit, wiry, 

 and rather " varmint" -looking roan cob who invariably bore 

 him Avhen a transit of his body beyond Sir Digby's domain 

 became either a matter of business or recreation. Instead of 

 the badger-pied cap, a perfectly round hat, with an exceedingly 

 narrow brim, surmounted his brow ; and a brown cut-away coat, 

 fastened by a single button across the breast, gave a "puff" to 

 the snowy wisp of a cravat which stuck prominently forth, like 

 the inflated crop of a pouter pigeon. The nether part of liis 

 person was attired, the seasons round, in the same undeviating 

 livery of drab cloth breeches and gaiters, the only change being 

 in the last delivered from the tailor's, and those preceding. A 

 pair of speckless doeskin gloves, and a straight cutting whip, 

 completed Mr. Robei-t Top's personal appearance, as he showed 

 the way on our road to Newmarket, 



CHAPTER Y. 



NEWMARKET. 



A DULL, spiritless, ghostly place is Newmarket. Instead of 

 the excitement, bustle, and din which generally attend the 

 periodical race meetings within the belt of merry England, let 

 the stake be never so large, the company never so great, and 

 there is the same quiet, subdued "business" air in and around 

 Newmarket. There is no fun on the heath, no frolic in the town. 

 Neither diiim nor trumpet, "ear-piercing fife," unfurled banners, 



