NEWMARKET. 33 



looked more alive, never exhibited a more thorough briskness 

 of demeanour, than when entering Newmarket by the main 

 street, for the first time in his life, mounted on Sunshine. The 

 advent of the horses from the Great Stable of the North invari- 

 ably caused Newmarket to wake up from that doze which seems 

 habitual to it. Newmarket, with an effort, threw off dull sloth, 

 and, rousing itself to action, proceeded to examine the closely- 

 clothed forms of Sunshine and Catch-me-who-can, as they strode 

 along with a light and springy tread, " the observed of many 

 observers." George Spindles, riding the Time Keeper, followed 

 in the rear ; and as the three pointed their way towards the 

 stable prepared for their reception, each following within a few 

 yards of the heels of the other, Newmarket looked on with ill- 

 concealed sensations of hope, fear, doubt, amity, enmity, and — 

 taken either together or separately — with heartfelt sentiments 

 of so opposite a character as to produce the meeting of elements 

 without possessing the smallest attribute of attraction of cohe- 

 sion. No mingling, no mixing of feelings, so as to form an har- 

 monious whole, like, for instance, a bowl of palatable punch, 

 brewed by the hand of a master of the high art, was manifest 

 in the outward expression of Newmarket upon the entry of Mr. 

 James Sloper's horses. The chief of the Great Stable of the 

 North had both his chosen friends and appreciating admirers in 

 Newmarket ; but, like public men generally, and particularly 

 as a public trainer in the greatest of public training stables, Mr. 

 James Sloper knew, as well as any man living, the great diffi- 

 culty of pleasing everybody ; and taking advantage of his know- 

 ledge, gained by experience, confined his efforts, therefore, to 

 please the few — that few so limited as to come under the head 

 f 0NE — an d that " one " being himself. Newmarket was 

 acquainted with this piece of private information, as well as 

 Mr. James Sloper himself; and, judging of the future by the 

 past, determined if possible to be governed in its own move- 

 ments by the causes — either direct or relative — which pulled 

 the wires of that distinguished man's doings on the coming 



c 



