EPSOM 191 



three minutes, and at starting he would have played the 

 same trick again, but, after two or three antics, he suffered 

 the other horse to lead him off. 



I continued daily to drive him, and he would frequently 

 show his restive temper ; but there was no other way 

 than to watch and wait for him. Once I had occasion to 

 turn back and exchange with the man who drove the 

 " Telegraph,"^ when he, thinking he could make him go 

 by whipping the wheel horses, and driving the bars on to 

 him, only proved the better effects of patience and mild 

 treatment, for he could not succeed, and the horse was 

 obliged to be taken out and another substituted. In my 

 passage through life I have found that this mode of treat- 

 ment will equally apply to another species, whose mouths 

 are not confined by bit and bridle, but who are sometimes 

 similar in temper, and almost as destitute of understand- 

 ing. 



This little triumph served further to ingratiate me with 

 both father and son ; and from this time, if anything 

 occurred in the field — such as a horse breaking his knees, 

 getting staked, or what not — it was said, " Never mind — 

 send him to Cross ; he will know what to do with 

 him." 



In the meantime, I was honoured with the continued 

 intimacy of the son, who invariably took occasion to offer 

 me a seat on his drag to Epsom on the Derby-day, when 

 his turn-out was more in order or more admired than any 

 other of a similar description. He would introduce me to 

 many titled companions, and would always put me on an 

 equal footing with them ; but had I ever been so inclined 



^ George Elliot. 



