LATHERING. 267 



styles it, takes effect, and now, caveat emptor^ or you 

 will get pretty well lathered. 



The horse is now ordered out, and we will suppose 

 the other is also out by order of the judge. The 

 proceedings of the two will have been different even 

 while the bridles are putting on. The Muff will 

 probably (in as he thinks a knowing way) say, 

 "Come, none of your ginger." — "Oh no. Sir," says 

 the man, "master never allows it." Muff turns 

 round, hums a bar or two of "Ah die forse in tai 

 momenti," or a scena in La Sonnamhula : while so 

 doing, in goes the ginger, and out goes the horse. 

 " No want of ginger there, Sir." — Now the other has 

 given no such directions ; but, if he objects to it, has 

 never taken his eye off the horse : so either allows its 

 being done, or prevents it, as he wishes. They now 

 severally take a general and cursory view of the horses ; 

 but from very different reasons. Muff looks gener- 

 ally, because he does not know how or where to look 

 critically : he perhaps lifts up a foot, because he 

 thinks he ought to do so, by which he gains about as 

 much information as if he looked into a coal-scuttle. 

 If he desires the horse's mouth to be opened, he 

 learns by this that there is a tongue there, but 

 nothing more. But, let me tell him, he has really, 

 without intending, learned something by this ; for, 

 though such an idea never entered his head, he might 

 have found the horse had lost part of that. He noAv, 

 having seen as much as he. would see if he looked for 

 a twelvemonth, most probably orders the nagsman to 

 mount him, who of course rides him in the way most 

 likely to please, either by letting him go quite quietly, 

 or making him curvet all down the ride or yard. He 

 then desires to ride him himself; orders the stirrups 



