THE PROFIT AND LOSS. O 



have clubbed up for a handsome testimonial in return for 

 the vast addition to their sport our presence had occa- 

 sioned. As it really happened, however, thev did'nt ; 

 and SO; with a very spotless, profitless, maiden reputation, 

 we wound up the year with one try more close home. 

 Here, mirahile dictu, amidst the shouts of our friends 

 and relations, and the very audible hisses of Mr. Mane, 

 the Mountain Maid did manage to win — a heat — the first 

 heat — 'and to spring* a sinew — a back sinew — in the 

 second. Having achieved this ag-reeable surprise she 

 hobbled back to nurse, leaving* her *^ worthy owner," as 

 they called him at dinner, with some fearful foreboding-s 

 touching' those travelling- expenses he had already had a 

 taste of. ^^ Entry here— " " stake there— " ''paid to 

 jockey, "&c. &c., with all the entertaining- sundries of 

 " self and lad," over and over again. If they have only 

 had the taste too to do it en prince, the propensity to 

 suffer for will become "all his own " with a vengeance ! 



The fortunes of this day, though, didn't end here, for 

 I had found out another propensity quite as difficult to 

 concpier as even a bit of plating. I was hit hard again ; 

 aye, and by a pair of black eyes that I had passed over a 

 hundred and fifty times before. But then, '' the sweet 

 sympathy " is the very secret of love after all ; and to 

 meet those sparklers all sparkle as the Mountain Maid 

 ran home something like a clever winner in number one, 

 and to mark them shaded over as she crept in something- 

 like a break-down in number two, was more than enough 

 for me. They were so glad, and then so sorry; the 

 gratulation and consolation followed so fervidly, I couldn't 

 but feel it ; and opportunity came so aptly, I couldn't but 

 follow up what I felt. My racing was over, for that 

 year at any rate ; and it would be still some time yet ere 



