sunshine's stakes. 27 



— Puffy Doddles hesitated previous to selecting liis basis, 

 and then added — "solemn davy, you're in everything! There's 

 not a stake," continued he, "worth winning, but what you're 

 in. Talk about engagements! why, here they are like strings of 

 sausages, one off and the other on ! May I be hanged" — and 

 then Robert Top's best lad looked as if in his mind's eye he 

 saw at a glance the awful responsibility associated with the 

 hempen twist encircling his throat — " but having the choice, I'd 

 rather not," added he, by way, perhaps, of qualifying the end 

 of his anticipated earthly career — " but you're in everything. 

 You are, indeed. Here we've got ye in the Newmarket July 

 Stakes, the Criterion, the Palatine, the Two Thou', the Derby, 

 the Ascot Derby, the Goodwood Derby, the St. Leger, the Don 

 Stakes, the Select Stakes, and the Stewards' Plate at Winches- 

 ter ! And the Stewards' Plate at Winchester ! " repeated 

 Puffy Doddles, with marked emphasis upon the conjunction. 

 " What next 1 " added he, rising from his seat on the bottom 

 of the stable-pail, with a perfect glow of satisfaction, lending 

 a transient effect of redness to his features. " I should like 

 to be informed," continued Puffy Doddles, striding to the near 

 side of Sunshine, "what next?" 



At the conclusion of this query, Sunshine, by Glitter, dam 

 Comet, by Falling Star, lifted the foot — white as snow from 

 the coronet to a little above the pastern — and, with both ears 

 thrown back, threatened to give the questioner a practical 

 retort of considerable force, not to add unanswerable strength. 



" Come, come," returned Puffy Doddles, with the utmost 

 confidence that the menace was one of the most transparent 

 shams ever beheld, " none o' your nonsense ! I know all about 

 lashing out. When meant it isn't done in that style." 



Sunshine felt perhaps that it was useless, after this unquali- 

 fied avowal, to attempt to practise the deception one moment 

 longer ; for, dropping his foot into the ordinary position of 

 supporting the fair proportion of his weight, and pricking his 

 ears forward, the son of Glister and Comet turned his head, 



