LUCY GLITTERS. 71 



temper has lost her another race. But no ! Of a sudden she 

 seems possessed of new hfe, and Uke an arrow from the bow 

 shoots past her rival. Is the effort too late ? I know not, as 

 the crowd shouts now the name of Lucy Glitters and now of 

 Happy Jack. But Sir John comes up with jubilant face 

 to lead me in. 



" * Let me congratulate you, my boy,' he says ; * I never 

 saw a better ridden race in my life. Had you moved an arm 

 or a leg you would have lost. The mare was watching for 

 you to use the whip or spur, and finding you meant to 

 treat her vrell, she made her effort. I believe she could 

 have won by a field if she had liked.' 



" I weigh in satisfactorily, no objection is lodged, and Lucy 

 Glitters is returned the winner of the Manby Cup by a head. 



"Need I tell you of the reception I met with when I 

 returned to the drag ? Maltby is there to drink the mare's 

 health in champagne. Charlie is in raptures, while Mabel's 

 face no longer looks pale and anxious. She has won gloves 

 to last her for years, she says. (So the little puss had 

 backed me !) 



" Burton comes up to offer faltering congratulations ; he 

 had backed Starlight heavily, and it was a painful operation 

 with him to part with money. 



" The ball at the Towers was a great success, and before the 

 night was over Mabel Manby had promised to be my wife. 

 We were married in the autumn ; two years later my uncle 

 died and left me all his fortune, and the following year Sir 

 John retired from the active mastership of the hounds in 

 favour of his son-in-law. 



"What became of Lucy Glitters ? She died from the 

 effects of a kick from another horse nine months ago. She 

 carried me to hounds for several seasons, never giving me a 

 fall, and the handsome bay yearling colt you were admiring 

 this morning is her legacy." 



