The Press., 1894-02-22

dine, in which they made such shrewd hits at one another that I thought it must be case of Banedick and Bea- trice, so thorough appeared their con- tempt for each others opinions. Then the putting up at a wayside inn, with the improvised luncheon of ham and eggs, re-enforced by the contents of the hamper which the mater had thought fully caused to be placed in the boot of the carriage-how Natty and did en- joy the horns of Dorsetshire ale, the best. we owned, that we had drunk since leaving Oxford.
 Luncheon over, we walked across the short, springy turf to the stables, where we found Pearce, the trainer, awaiting our arrival. A very good sort of fellow he appeared. None of your grand gen. tlemen, full of mystery and importance, who will hardly let an owner look at his own horse, far less let him know what the horse can do, but pleasant looking, fresh complexioned man of about 50, as honest as Purkiss, but a deal shrewder. Taking Natty and me aside, he told us that he proposed to try both the horses with one he had there of a fair class, which had lately won a good handicap and which he considered to be very reliable runner.
 "Not one of your in and out custom CTS, he said, but a horse as always runs up to his form."
 He further told us that if either of mine could beat Pedometer-for such was the name of the trial horse-or run we'll up to him it would be good enough to enter for any handicap or weight forage stake.
 Then the horses were brought out. Pedometer was a plain looking, busi- nesslike brown horse, wearing band age on his near foreleg and looking un- dersized, though not really so when you came to stand beside him. Not at all the sort of horse to look at that duffer would have risked sovereign on at 20 to 1, but, as Natty as well as his train CT assured me, "a very useful sort. '' Brilliant quite took the shine out of him when he came forth, arching his neck and stepping proudly with Haunting flag and sleek coat gleaming ill the sun
  ton of delight burst from the lips of the two girls, while Mrs. Fitz Travers declared she had never seen so beauti- full creature. Once more visions of Ascot, with Ella in dark blue and gold, foated in my foolish brain, till Natty gave me dig in the ribs and asked me what thought of the mare now.
 T r Ch known her. She looked twice the size, to begin with. Then she moved with a free, corky action, quite unlike her former sulky gait, while her bay coat was much brighter than before, and though I could still count every rib which Natty assured me was inevitable in horse prepared for racing-yet her skin felt more supple and not strained so tightly over her osseous framework as it used to be.
 ''I am sure, Captain Martindale, y said Mrs. Fitz Travers politely, "that both your horses will easily beat that shabby looking one which went on in front. Indeed don't see the least use in trying them. y
 However, as this was the business which had brought us out, we thought we might as well go through with it.. So Pearce pointed out to us hillock at little distance from which we could best see the trial, and then mounting his white pony cantered after the horses.
 The trial was quickly over. The course was a mile and half, and Pe- dometer brought them along at merry pace. must own the result surprised