20 FEELING THE WAY. 



" Most certainly," said the other ; " but I ha'nt 

 much to complain of that among my young 'uns." 



" Dare say not/' said Jaques, " you're a careful man, 

 Stevens. I believe sore shins come from going too 

 often, too long, and too fast, sometimes, don't they ?" 



" Just so, sir," said Stevens, " and patickler if they 

 beant well prepared to stand it." 



" Guessed as much," said Jaques ; " now that's just 

 the dodge with your governor." 



" I'm laying out of my ground agin," said Stevens ; 

 " you make too strong running for me ; what on earth 

 has sore shins to do wi' Mr. Manderville, I should like 

 to know." 



" Only this much," said Jaques ; " his are so sore, 

 he has not a leg to stand on that can be trusted to, 

 that's all." 



" You don't mean as to fortune, I hope," said 

 Stevens; "indeed you can't, for we've had some 

 pretty good stakes come to the stable all last year, 

 and are beginning agin this ; we've only been out 

 once, and you know we won the Trial Stakes with 

 our Slane filly, handsome." 



"I do ; and it is about that same filly I am now 

 come to talk with you," said Jaques. 



" Well, there can't be much said about lier ; you 

 know what she's in for next : she carries five pound 

 less for that than she did last week ; there's no 

 horse in the race as good as she by seven pounds 

 except one, and she beat him you know last week ; so 

 if she's ' right on the day,' which I have no doubt 

 she will be, why we must win in a canter. " 



" No, you must not," said Jaques, quite coolly. 



" Must not," said Stevens ; "why we can't lose it if 

 we tr3^" 



"Oh yes, you can," replied the other, "the filly must 



