10 TALES AND TRAITS OF SPOUTING LIFE. 



And after him, over tlie lopes^ came yoimg Bronghton, 

 the doctor, and nearly over tlie heads of the ponies as 

 well. " Took twenty to one to a fiver about her three 

 minutes hefore starting— Vv'on a hundred clear. Ah ! 

 Miss MacRichards, lucky dog, isn't he ? Won't abuse 

 the race-horses now — eh, ladies ?" 



iiut '* the ladies " were evidently nonplussed, and theu* 

 conductor somewhat confused. What could it all be to 

 tlicm ■ 



' ' vVho is he ?" inquired my wife ; ^' point him oat to us." 



'^Yes^ do show us this fortunate Mr. Jones/' joined in 

 Miss MacRichards. 



"' Show you who ?" said Primeport, who was grinding 

 avray at a bottle between his knees. '' Show you this Mr. 

 Jones. Yes, that I will in a twinkling. Here he stands as 

 large as life, and twice as happy, the husband of that 

 sweet lady, and the real owner of the Mountain 'Maid. 

 Had her on the quiet, you see, all through, and now she's 

 gained him two hundred and twenty-five pounds at one 

 start. Prove it in a minute. Fifteen small forfeits — five 

 times five, seventy-five — then two at fifteen each, that's 

 thirty more, a hundred and five — and fifty ad " 



But just here the enthusiastic ready-reckoner stopped 

 short : there was something going on, he, for one, never 

 bargained for. Miss Mac. had become a body of ice, 

 quite as quick as ever Mrs. Lot took to the pillar of salt ; 

 and my little woman certainly evinced every disposition, 

 as the actors say, to play up to her. Secrets are quite a 

 toss-up in women's hands, and it is all an open question 

 how they will tell, let the premises be ever so promising. 

 In this instance the eftect was never for a moment in 

 doubt. Prime had committed himself, and condemned 

 me ; and when our trusty pilot, Mr. Mane, strolled up for 



