PURCHASING HOESES. 27 



this point : for probably ** some d — d good-natured 

 friend" has enlightened him on the point, and to his 

 dismay he finds his horses have not been admired. 

 He has for some time found they did not do their 

 business hke those of many others he has seen ; and, 

 " horror upon horrors !" he has had more than one 

 unequivocal hint that his manner of using them was 

 not in the best taste. If he assumes the racing 

 style, racing men, trainers, jockeys, head-lads, down 

 to the exercise-boys, smile when they get a chance 

 look at him. The first four think they should much 

 like to make a bet with him on any event ; the latter 

 say to each other, " Don't he think he could win the 

 Darby ?" If he had adopted the military style, the 

 result would be about this : — Military men, from the 

 colonel to the cornet, good-naturedly smiled, and 

 thought that, as he had a miUtary taste, and moreover 

 the still greater recommendation to a cavalry regi- 

 ment, money y it was a pity he should play the pseudo- 

 soldier while a commission was to be got. The less 

 well disposed d — d him for a fool ; while the sub- 

 ordinates, on seeing his military seat, hailed him with 



