BILL'S CHANGE. 93 



You need not have held her hand so long, young man, nor 

 have pressed it to such an extent. Ah ! well, it's the way of 

 the world, and even stable-boys get wounded by Cupid's darts. 



The scene changes to the saddling paddock at Ne^vmarket. 

 Bates, on King Hal, is the centre of an admiring crowd, which 

 makes way for the trainer, " Natty " Fielding, who, having 

 seen that all is well with Blue Rock and his jockey, goes to 

 lead the favourite out and give final instructions. It had 

 been an anxious time for young Daubeney, Blue Rock having 

 put on his usual racecourse manners, though in a slightly 

 modified degree, directly he entered the paddock. While 

 superintending the saddling, the horse caught hold of the 

 young jockey's arm, not with his usual vigour certainly, but 

 he bit hard enough to make the lad wince. However, he did 

 not move till the horse relaxed his hold, and then he patted 

 his neck. 



" Now, old man," he said, " I know you don't want to hurt 

 me. We've a big job in front of us, and we're both going to 

 do our best, aren't we, old fellow ? " 



" It's astonishing how lamb-like you've got that horse, 

 Daubeney," said the head lad. " I'm blest if I don't think the 

 old beggar means trying to-day. I've backed The King, of 

 course, but I'll save a bit on your mount, my lad." 



"Now, Daubeney," said Fielding, who came up at that 

 moment with Mr. Dalton, " Mr. Dalton says you are to ride 

 Blue Rock just as you like. You know as much about him 

 as anyone, and as Mr. Dalton has declared to run both horses 

 on their merits, win if you can. Neither he nor I have got a 

 shilling on either." 



" Feel nervous at all, Daubeney ? " asked the owner of the 

 favourite. " Will you have a glass of champagne ? " 



" Not very nervous, sir," replied the jockey, " and I'll come 

 for champagne when I've won the race, if I may." 



