stration: MR. VINEY AND MR. WATCHORN GETTING UP 'THE GRAND
ARISTOCRATIC']

Fortune favoured them also in getting a locality to run in, for Timothy
Scourgefield, of Broom Hill, whose farm commanded a good circular three
miles of country, with every variety of obstacle, having thrown up his
lease for a thirty-per-cent reduction--a giving up that had been most
unhandsomely accepted by his landlord--Timothy was most anxious to pay him
off by doing every conceivable injury to the farm, than which nothing can
be more promising than having a steeple-chase run over it. Scourgefield,
therefore, readily agreed to let Viney and Watchorn do whatever they liked,
on condition that he received entrance-money at the gate.

The name occupied their attention some time, for it did not begin as the
'Aristocratic.' The 'Great National,' the 'Grand Naval and Military,' the
'Sports-man,' the 'Talli-ho,' the 'Out-and-Outer,' the 'Swell,' were all
considered and canvassed, and its being called the 'Aristocratic' at length
turned upon whether they got Lord Scamperdale to subscribe or not. This was
accomplished by a deferential call by Mr. Viney upon Mr. Spraggon, with a
little bill for three pound odd, which he presented, with the most urgent
request that Jack wouldn't think of it then--any time that was most
convenient to Mr. Spraggon--and then the introduction of the neatly-headed
sheet-list. It was lucky that Viney was so easily satisfied, for poor Jack
had only thirty shillings, of which he owed his washerwoman eight, and he
was very glad to stuff Viney's bill into his stunner jacket-pocket, and
apply himself exclusively to the contemplated steeple-chase.

Like most of us, Jack had no objection to make a little money; and as he
squinted his frightful eyes inside out at the paper, he thought over what
horses they had in the stable that were like the thing; and then he sounded
Viney as to whether he would put him one up for nothing, if he could induce
his lordship to send. This, of course, Viney readily assented to, and again
requesting Jack not to _think_ of his little bill till it was _perfectly_
convenient to him--a favour that Jack was pretty sure to accord him--Mr.
Viney took his departure, Jack undertaking to write him the result. The
next day's post brought Viney the document--unpaid, of course--with a great
'Scamperdale' scrawled across the top; and forthwith it was decided that
the steeple-chase should be called the 'Grand Aristocrati