MISS ELIS. 173 



After deciding not to try Miss Elis for the 

 Goodwood Stakes, his Lordship was anxious to 

 see her gallop at half speed with John o' Gaunt, 

 Discord, and other old horses. I again ventured 

 to remonstrate, explaining that down to that time 

 Miss Elis had done all her work by herself entirely 

 to my satisfaction, and that, contrary to her wont, 

 after being galloped in company with other horses 

 or tried, she had fed remarkably well, and would 

 go to the post in better condition than ever before. 

 After she had taken her usual gallop by herself, 

 Lord George wished to see the rest perform, and 

 was so much impressed by the style in which John 

 o' Gaunt did his work, and the determined way in 

 which he galloped, that he became quite excited, 

 remarking, " I have laid heavily against this horse, 

 and shall be half ruined if he wins." I replied that 

 if he were not mulcted in pocket until John o' 

 Gaunt gave Miss Elis 2 stone 1 lb. over two miles 

 and a half, no harm would happen to him for a 

 long time to come, as I knew that over that or 

 any other distance he would not give her 7 lb. and 

 a beating. " But," he rejoined, " that was some 

 time ago ; are you sure that they are in that form 

 now, as I never saw John o' Gaunt go in such style 

 before ? " I lost no time in reassuring his Lord- 

 ship, and begged him to make strong running with 

 John o' Gaunt (who was nicely handicapped for an 

 old horse at 8 stone 3 lb.), in order to let the mare 

 settle down to her work, when I promised him 



