HUNTINGCROP HALL 275 



nise any qualities in him but the lowest and most 

 degrading. 



Laura hastened to the window, and I rose from 

 the table and followed her. 



" You pretty darlings ! " she rapturously exclaimed. 

 " Oh ! are you going to ride The Sultan, Mr 

 Smoothley ? How nice ! I do so want to, but 

 papa won't let me." 



" No, my dear ; he's not the sort of horse for 

 little girls to ride ; — but he'll suit you, Smoothley ; 

 he'll suit you, I know." 



Without expressing a like confidence, I asked, 

 " Is that the Sultan ? " pointing to a large chestnut 

 animal at that moment in the attitude which, in a 

 dog, is termed " begging." 



" Yes ; a picture, isn't he ? Look at his legs. 

 Clean as a foal's ! Good quarters — well ribbed up 

 — not like one of the waspy greyhounds they call 

 thoroughbred horses now-a-days. Look at his condi- 

 tion, too ; I've kept that up pretty well, though he's 

 been out of training for some time," cried the Major. 



" He's not a racehorse, is he ? " I nervously 

 asked. 



" He's done a good deal of steeplechasing, and 

 ran once or twice in the early part of this season. 

 It makes a horse rush his fences rather, perhaps ; 

 but you young fellows like that, I know." 



