UPSET. 137 



beaten in your trial ? " Lady Selstead says, 

 inquiringly, to Clive, when presently, with a 

 delight which he takes ineffectual pains to con- 

 ceal, he strolls up to Sir Henry's drag. " How 

 strange that was ! " 



" Not very strange. Lady Selstead," Clive 

 answers, with a smile; "I was beaten in my 

 trial, it is true enough, but by one of the very 

 best horses in the country. His owner was a 

 great friend of my poor brother, and lent me the 

 horse to try Heartsease with. When I tell you 

 that the little brown horse which Mabel thought 

 so poorly of is Opportunity, who is almost as 

 good at even weights as the Grand National 

 winner, you will see that my defeat was far from 

 unpromising, for we made a bit of a fight of it. 

 Opportunity is not much to look at, but he is a 

 marvellous jumper, and can gallop at a wonderful 

 pace as well." 



Mabel did not quite understand. Sir Henry, 

 however, though not a racing man, knew of 

 Opportunity's reputation. 



" Yes; that was good enough to go on, indeed, 

 if you got near him in your trial," he said. 

 " They say he would very nearly have won at 

 Liverpool if he had gone for it. Your friend is 

 lucky to have two such chasers in his stable as 

 the winner and Opportunity." 



