'Not I, certainly.'

'Nor I,' said the Major, as we drank to her health with all the honours.

'Now for another jug,' quoth the Major, as he moved towards the
fireplace in search of the kettle.

'After that toast, not another drop,' said I resolutely.

'Well said!' chimed in the priest; 'may I never, if that wasn't very
Irish!'

Firmly resisting all the Major's solicitations to resume my place at
the table, I wished both my friends goodnight; and having accepted Bob
Mahon's offer of a seat in his tax-cart to the race, I shook their hands
warmly, and took my leave.

CHAPTER XXV. THE STEEPLECHASE

I did not awake till past noon the next day, and had only completed
my dressing when Major Mahon made his appearance. Having pronounced my
costume accurate, and suggested that instead of carrying my racing-cap
in my hat I should tie the string round my neck and let it hang down in
front, he assisted me on with my greatcoat, in which, notwithstanding
that the season was summer, and the day a hot one, he buttoned me up to
the chin and down to the knees.

'There, now,' said he, 'you look mighty like the thing. Where's your
whip? We have no time to lose, so jump into the tax-cart, and let us be
off.'

As my reader may remember, the race-ground lay about a mile from the
town; but the road thither, unlike the peaceful quiet of the preceding
night, was now thronged with people on foot and horseback. Vehicles,
too, of every description were there--barouches and landaus,
hack-chaises, buggies, and jaunting-cars, whiskys, noddies, and, in
fact, every species of conveyance pronounced capable of rolling upon its
wheels, was put into requisition. Nor was the turn-out of cavalry of a
character less mixed. Horses of every shape and colour--some fat from
grass; others lean, like anatomical specimens; old and young; the
rich and the poor; the high-sheriff of the county, with his flashy
four-in-hand; the mendicant on his crutches--all pressed eagerly
forward. And as I surveyed the motley mass I felt what pleasure I could
take in the scene, were I not engaged as a principal performer.

On reaching the course we found it already occupied by numerous
brilliant equipages, and a strong cavalcade of horsemen; of these
the greater number were well mounted, and amused themselves and the
bystanders by leaping the various fences around--a species of pastime
which occasionally afforded food for laughter, many a soiled coat and
broken