UPSET. 



A STEEPLECHASE STOBY. 

 CHAPTEE I. 



THE NOMINATION. 



A GAEDEN-PARTY is perhaps more than any other 

 sort of party dependent on the guests. At 

 dinner, for instance, the presence of a dull 

 neighbour may be mitigated by the menu, and a 

 happy combination of good wine and well-dressed 

 food soothes the irritation caused by the man 

 who talks too much or the lady who talks too 

 little. In a party made up for the purpose 

 of going to the races a guest may occupy himself 

 in losing his money and explaining how the 

 failure is entirely attributable, not to his judg- 

 ment, but to the horse, that did not win when it 

 clearly ought to have done so. At a whist-party, 

 again, a man has cards for amusement, besides 

 the satisfaction of reflecting that he is not such a 

 wretched bad player as his partner. Indeed, most 



