e old ones."

"What would I do with a gig and horse? Besides, the gig's shook, the
shafts are all loose, and the boxes are battered; and the horse was
saying his prayers lately, by the look of his knees."

"Never down in his life, by G----d," said George, willing to help his
brother in a matter of horseflesh; "it's only a knock he got when I
was trying to put him over the little wall beyond the lawn there; but
I couldn't make the brute jump, though he's the sweetest horse in
harness I ever sat behind."

Ussher was not to be done; and Fred consoled himself by assuring
him that he'd be sorry for it, when he found the mare was not the
least use in life down in Munster, and that no one would give him a
twenty-pound note for her.

A drag now came round to the door. George was making his toilet
before the fire, having eaten about half an ounce of dry toast after
his morning exercise under the three great-coats. He was adjusting
his boots and breeches--and George was not a little proud of his
appearance in his riding costume; the jacket and cap were carried
loose; and after many exclamations from Fred, that they would be
late, and that as he had backed Conqueror, it was a shame for his
brother to give the stewards the chance of starting the horses
without him, which were answered by rejoinders from George that they
wouldn't dare to do so--showing that he didn't care how much all
the rest might be inconvenienced by his delay, so long as he didn't
suffer himself, the three got into the conveyance at the door, about
an hour after the time at which the horses were advertised to start
punctually; and Fred drove them to the course, which was not above a
mile distant.

I cannot say that the ground displayed much that was elegant in
the way of equipages, or anything very refined in the countenances
belonging to the race-course.

The weighing stand consisted of the scales in which potatoes and
oats were usually weighed in the market-place in Carrick, and were
borrowed from the municipality for the occasion. The judge's chair
was formed of a somewhat more than ordinary high stool, with a kind
of handle sticking up at one corner, by holding on to which he was
barely able to keep his place, so constantly were the mob pressing
round him.

There was a stand, from which a tolerable view of the race could
be obtained, admission one shilling; but few ascended it, and long
before the start, the price had fallen to sixpence.

There w