8 A Question of Bits 



supposing that two pins would be anything in the nature 

 of an inducement to a well-schooled mare that has won 

 steeplechases. Chippenham is standing in his trap, 

 watching ; Starchle}^, after looking up and down for the 

 gate, spies one and very placidly trots towards it. The 

 leading division jump the fence as if it Avere not there, 

 most of the farmers go without looking twice, the trainer 

 and his daughter take no notice of it, but the boy on the 

 thoroughbred blunders in consequence of his eager horse 

 taking off too soon, whereupon the other boy on the cob, 

 the trainer's younger son, chuckles merrily. With much 

 movement of arms and legs a stranger in a frock coat 

 and a beautiful pair of light trousers, rucked half-way 

 up to his knees already, canters up and gets over ; truly, 

 he lands on his horse's neck, loses a stirrup and drops 

 his hat and whip ; but he jumped it. The fence was not 

 the terrific and almost insurmountable obstacle it will 

 be made to appear in his thrilling narration of the 

 incident when he gets back to London. There he is the 

 right side, however, which is much, and in the saddle 

 too, which is more. 



But what has become of Lawford, meantime ? 

 He, unfortunately, is not the right side. With vivid 

 remembrances of his last day on the mare he has 

 brought a cutting whip instead of a hunting crop, 

 hoping, perhaps, that it may remind her of former 

 expeditions between the flags ; and this be phes with a 

 will. She has simply cantered up to the fence and 

 refused to jump, refused with a deliberation which spurs 

 and whip are powerless to affect. Lawford is left by 

 himself, and has sufficient judgment to see that for the 

 moment he cannot have his way in opposition to the 

 mare. A couple of farmers are making for a gate away 



