248 THE TWO TEAMS. 



is enough that he has carried Mr. a season or 



two, as it is quite well known he would not have 

 ridden the same horse ten times if he was common- 

 place. He has no objection to selling a horse to pay 

 a hundred; it lessens his stable expenses: but he 

 would not punish himself by riding a brute in order 

 to make money. There is nothing in any shape dero- 

 gatory to the character or conduct of a gentleman in 

 what he does : he is a good judge, a good horseman, a 

 good sportsman : all this tends to the results I have 

 mentioned : he is, moreover, in all probability, a good 

 fellow, or people would have nothing to do with him 

 or his horses. Long may such men ride and prosper ! 

 I wish we had more of them. 



There are other men who are especially driving 

 men : these can do the same thing by their nags, and 

 perhaps drive their four-in-hand at as little expense as 

 others do their cabs. A friend of mine, whose income 

 never exceeded 2000/. a year, always contrived to 

 keep six, seven, or eight hunters during the season, 

 and had his team during the summer ; added to which 

 his bachelor menage was in perfect good taste. He 

 had one summer got together four very good goers, 

 and few men could hold them together better than he 

 could. Coming along the road from Hammersmith, 

 he overtook a friend, also driving his team, who piqued 

 himself on having fast ones : they had a few minutes' 

 chat, when, to the latter gentleman's perfect astonish- 

 ment, my friend went away from him and the fast 

 ones with perfect ease. They met an hour afterwards 

 in the Park, and when they had come side by side, 

 the same result took place. It ended in a deal, and 

 they actually exchanged teams, harness and all, my 

 friend drawing a hundred in the exchange. During 



