WHO IS TO RIDE HIM ? 305 



came down to the old place to live, gave up steeple- 

 chasing altogether. " He had so much to do, so 

 much to attend to ; after a bit he would have 

 another squeeze at the lemon, but really he must 

 attend to his affairs first." 



Eepeatecl refusals damped the ardour of his friends, 

 so at last they gave up asking him to ride, and he 

 was left in quiet to pursue his own way. 



Time went on, and such a person as George 

 Bradon had almost been forgotten by the sporting 

 public. One morning, some eighteen months after 

 he had come home, going into the harness-room, he 

 carelessly seated himself in the weighing-chair, and 

 exclaimed to the old stud-groom, an heirloom his 

 father had left him : " The same weight, Tim, I 

 suppose — eleven three ? " 



The person thus appealed to, standing on tiptoe, 

 looked up at the dial as well as he was able ; for, 

 in addition to being short and stout, he had a very 

 tight pair of trousers, which seemed to have been 

 made on him, and was moreover incommoded by a 

 stiff white neckcloth, which threatened to strangle 

 him. After having studied the dial for a few 

 seconds, he started back, and blurted out in a voice 

 of horror and amazement : " Can I believe my haged 

 heyes, Master George ? You're twelve five, as I'm 

 a miserable sinner ! " 



II u 



