MY FIEST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 145 



have been in some hospitable houses since, where 

 the owners kept chefs, and prided themselves, not 

 unjustly, on the quality of their cellars ; but I 

 never enjoyed myself so much, and, I fear, never 

 shall, as those scrambling dinners, though the bill 

 of fare often consisted of cold grouse, washed down 

 by a tankard of beer — taken, too, standing in the 

 corner of a pantry, surrounded by a host of pretty 

 girls, all of them engaged in teasing and administer- 

 ing to my wants. 



Early one morning, about a week before the 

 races were to come off, I was engaged as usual, 

 exercising Dick's hunter on the course, when, at a 

 little distance, I saw a horse in body-clothes 

 cantering along with that easy stride peculiar to 

 thorough-breds. For some time the rider appeared 

 anxious to avoid me, increasing the pace as I came 

 near, until the animal I rode, always headstrong, 

 broke away and soon ranged alongside. 



" Whose horse is that ? " I inquired of the 

 groom. 



" My master's, yer honour," he replied, without a 

 smile, slackening his pace at the same time, as mine 

 raced past. 



When I succeeded in pulling up again, the fellow 

 was galloping away in another direction. I had 

 seen enough, however : there was no mistaking 



II K 



