t, though the young fellows
bore their failure well. Dolly Longstaff had lost a "pot of money",
Silverbridge would have to draw upon that inexhaustible Mr. Morton
for something over two thousand pounds,--in regard to which he had no
doubt as to the certainty with which the money would be forthcoming,
but he feared that it would give rise to special notice from his
father. Even the poor younger brother had lost a couple of hundred
pounds, for which he would have to make his own special application
to Mr. Morton.

But Tifto felt it more than any one. The horse ought to have won.
Fishknife had been favoured by such a series of accidents that the
whole affair had been a miracle. Tifto had these circumstances at
his fingers' ends, and in the course of the afternoon and evening
explained them accurately to all who would listen to him. He had this
to say on his own behalf,--that before the party had left the course
their horse stood first favourite for the Leger. But Tifto was
unhappy as he came back to town, and in spite of the lunch, which had
been very glorious, sat moody and sometimes even silent within his
gay apparel.

"It was the unfairest start I ever saw," said Tifto, almost getting
up from his seat on the coach so as to address Dolly and Silverbridge
on the box.

"What the ---- is the good of that?" said Dolly from the coach-box.
"Take your licking and don't squeal."

"That's all very well. I can take my licking as well as another
man. But one has to look to the causes of these things. I never saw
Peppermint ride so badly. Before he got round the corner I wished I'd
been on the horse myself."

"I don't believe it was Peppermint's fault a bit," said Silverbridge.

"Well;--perhaps not. Only I did think that I was a pretty good judge
of riding."

Then Tifto again settled down into silence.

But though much money had been lost, and a great deal of
disappointment had to be endured by our party in reference to the
Derby, the most injurious and most deplorable event in the day's
history had not occurred yet. Dinner had been ordered at the
Beargarden at seven,--an hour earlier than would have been named had
it not been that Lord Gerald must be at the Eastern Counties Railway
Station at nine P.M. An hour and a half for dinner and a cigar
afterwards, and half an hour to get to the railway station would not
be more than time enough.

But of all men alive Dolly Longstaff was the most unpunctual. He did
not arrive t