WHO WON THE KENILWORTH CUP. 205 



up his whij^ his horse is immediately seen in advance, 

 and gallops past Straightley first by two lengths. 



They pull up as soon as possible, and walk back 

 to him side by side. At length Dick broke the 

 silence. 



" I suppose you were trying, Beau ? " he asked. 



Lord Beauclerc was almost too staggered to speak, 

 but at last he found tongue to reply : 



" I was trying hard enough, I assure you ! " 



" I wasn't particularly. Achates seems to show it 

 more than the mare, but all the same, I could have won 

 a good deal further," Dick answered, hardly knowing 

 what to make of it. 



"What's the matter with her, Straightley?" Beau- 

 clerc asked, with a tinge of vexation in his voice, as 

 they rejoined the trainer. 



" Nothing the matter with her, my lord, but she can't 

 gallop like the chestnut — nor jump, neither ; and what's 

 more, he'll be 7 lbs. better by the 15th. I'm afraid it's 

 all up with our chance !" Mat said in a sorrowful tone; 

 but, patting the mare's neck forgivingly, " she could 

 only do her best." 



" Yes ; there's not much doubt about that, I fancy ! " 

 her owner said, as he dismounted — one stage down into 

 the hole he had spoken about, he fancied. 



" What nonsense ! " Dick burst in. " My dear Beau, 

 what are you thinking of ! I sha'n't run him at Kenil- 

 worth on any account — of course not ! I wouldn't 

 interfere with your book for all the world ; but I'll send 



