THE CRITERION. 49 



tiglifc, but not inconvemently so, announced tliat I was ready to 

 receive the further portion of my eight-stone-seven, by briefly 

 remarkini:^ that " all was risfht." 



The jaundice-cheeked wearer of the cap and boots threw an 

 over-coat, of pepper and salt hue, from his back, and revealed 

 himself, like a pea from the pod, in the glittering colours of 

 his master, a bright cherry satin jacket with, a white hoop. 

 " A leg up," — and I was mounted. 



Sir Digby, with two hectic spots burning fiercely in his 

 generally pallid countenance, walked some distance with me as 

 I was turned to go to the post ; and when no one was near, I 

 heard him say, in a subdued tone, to my rider, who stooped 

 from his seat to receive his orders, "Take the lead, and 

 keep it." 



CHAPTER IX 



iHE CRITERION. 



My maiden race ! Ay, many a year has fled since I walked with 

 a proud and dainty tread to the post for my "maiden race;'* 

 and the pulses of those who knew me well and loved me, beat 

 quickly, I ween, as there I stood, like a bird with outstretched 

 pinions, ready to cope with heart and limb in the closely- 

 approaching struggle. My swollen veins, corded like a thick 

 net upon my skin, my eyes felt ready to start from tlieir sockets, 

 and it was with difficulty that I could restrain myself from 

 making an attempt to break away with my jockoy or unseat 

 him in a corresponding method, I suspect, to that adopted by 

 my dam when she could not brook the impatience of delay. 



" Go ! " The flag dropped, and we were off. As gun- 

 pov/der flashes to the spark, I answered, the first and scarcely 

 perceptible motion of my jockey's hand; and as soon as I 

 could get into my stride — for, although one of the speediest, I 

 was far from being quick in getting to my work — I laid myself 

 down for the foremost place, and wanted no " call " to do my 

 ^st to occupy it. In the field of seven, which I had to con- 



