142 MY FIRST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 



here have been very civil to us, and we owe them 

 some return. There are plenty of girls in the 

 neighbourhood to make a very good one ; men are 

 scarce ; but we can ask the " Plungers " over from 



Barracks. Besides, I promised Emily last 



night, and there's no getting out of it." 



I ventured mildly to suggest that the regiment 

 didn't get out of the last under a couple of hundred, 

 and that we had not half that between us. 



" My dear fellow," he replied, " this is quite 

 another affair altogether. We can borrow the club 

 archery tent for a ballroom. There are many 

 things, game, &c, to be had for nothing here. My 

 sisters are coming over on a visit ; they will look 

 after the details. It will be a great success, and 

 we shall only have wine and lights to pay for." 



" And how far," I asked, with a slight sneer, 

 " will the money left go in getting those, not to 

 speak of other essentials that must be provided ? " 



" I have arranged all that as well," answered 

 Dick, with the air of a man who had thoroughly 

 mastered the subject. " The races here come off 

 the end of August. There is a £50 Plate to be 

 run for on the flat, and a steeple-chase as well. I 

 know all the horses likely to start. With one 

 exception (Father B.'s) ours can give them a stone 

 for either event. The priest can't run his horse ; 



