OXLY THE MARE. 233 



undamaged. As I skim along past the stand the first 

 time round and the line of carriages opposite, I catch 

 sight of a waving white handkerchief: it is Nellie; and 

 my confused glimpse imperfectly reveals Bertie and 

 Smithers standing on the box. 



I had seen visions of a finish, in which a certain 

 person clad in a light-blue jacket had shot ahead just 

 in the nick of time, and landed the race by consummate 

 jockeyship after a neck-and-neck struggle for the last 

 quarter of a mile. This did not happen, however, for, 

 as I afterwards learned, the chestnut refused a fence 

 before he had gone very far, and, having at last been 

 got over, came to grief at the posts and rails the second 

 time round. Little Lady cantered in alone, Blankncy 

 strolling up some time afterwards. 



There is no need to make record of Bertie's delight at 

 the success. We messed next day with the 140th. 

 Blankney and his brethren were excessively friendly, 

 and seemed pleased and satisfied ; as most assuredly 

 were we. Blankney opines that he went rather too fast 

 at the timber ; but a conviction seemed to be gaining 

 ground towards the close of the evening that he had not 

 gone fast enough at any period of the race. 



And for Nellie r She kept her promise, and granted 

 my request ; and very soon after the ankle is well we 

 shall require the services of other horses — grey ones ! 



