232 EACECOUESE AND COVEET SIDE. 



ing to ttie prettiest girls behind the windows, 

 closing up and pointing to tlie vacant places by 

 their sides, pantomimic invitations to come to 

 the Derby being thus conveyed ; but the girls 

 shake their heads, blush, and look down ; stern 

 mistresses appear, and speak evidently in terms 

 of reproof. The bold young men press their 

 hands to their hearts, take out their pocket- 

 handkerchiefs, and are dissolved in tears at the 

 cruel refusals until they come to another bevy 

 of beauty, when the invitation is repeated. 



By this time checks are frequent and progress 

 is slow. Some of the horses that have been 

 dragging unmerciful loads give signs that they 

 have gone just about as far as they can, but the 

 grand stand is in sight, and in a very few 

 minutes we are at the top of the ascent, with 

 the famihar picture of Epsom Downs on the 

 Derby Day spread out before us. The roar of 

 the ring comes across the course, and frequent 

 offers of 5 to 1 on the field prove that the race 

 is regarded as an open one. 



On the hill all our old friends are in their 

 usual places. The Living Skeleton's ribs are as 

 prominent as they were last year, and the " Fat 

 Woman," as that lady is called in bold, blunt 

 English, has laid on weight — that is to say, if 

 the pictorial illustrations outside the show are to 



