148 ONLY THE MARE 



and from another pocket he produced a small paper 

 parcel. 



" D'yer know what that is ? That's a ' twitch.' 

 D'yer know what that is? That's medicine. I 

 love this 'ere young feller's mare so much I'm 

 a-goin' to give it some nicey med'cine myself; and 

 this is the right stuff. I've been up to the 'ouse 

 to-day, and can find my way into the stable to- 

 night when it's all quiet. Just slip this loop over 

 'er lip, and she'll open 'er mouth. Down goes the 

 pill, and as it goes down the money goes into my 

 pocket. Them officer fellers and their friends have 

 been backing Blankney's 'orse ; but Phil Kelly will 

 take care that they hear at the last moment that 

 he's no good. Then they'll rush to lay odds on the 

 mare — and the mare won't win." 



They laughed, and nudged each other in the side, 

 and I felt a mighty temptation to rush into the 

 room and nudge their heads with my fist. Little 

 Lady's delicate lips, which Nelly had so often petted, 

 to be desecrated by the touch of such villains as 

 these ! 



While struggling to restrain myself a hand was 

 laid on my shoulders, and, turning round, I saw 

 Smithers. We proceeded to the stable ; and I 

 hastily recounted to him what had happened, and 

 what I had heard, as he examined the mare by the 



