emplemore; some, as a matter of remote history; some, as another delusion in horse-flesh the greater number, however, with a determination to stand by the beaten favourite, though he had fall

e the money they had lost, against the winner. A favourite on whom money has been staked, not only has friends, but in adversity he is still beli

im, though he may seem possibly to be worthless. What is worthless, if it be well looked at? Nay, the most worthless creatures are most serviceable for examination, when the microscope is applied to them, as a simple study of human mechanism. This youth is one

hin, and gave a decision in Algernon's favour. Lord Suckling paid the money on the spot, and Algernon pocketed it exulting. He had the idea that it was the first start in his making head against the flood. The next instant he could have pitched himself upon the floor and bellowed. For, a soul of chicken and wine, lightly elated, is easily dashed; and if he had but said to Lord Suckling that, it might as well be deferred, the thing would have become a precedent, and his own debt might have been held back. He went on saying, as he rushed forward alone: "Never mind, Suckling. Oh, hang it! put it in your pocket;" and the imperative necessity for talking, and fancying what was adverse to fact, enabled him to feel for a time as if he had really acted according to the prompting of his wisdom. It amazed him to see people sitting an

end of his and Suckling's

e's w

r ho

ur?" Algernon stared defiantly a

y sorry to, seeing that I

s under-lip hang that he might restrain the impulse to bite

d don't fiddle at your pockets as if I'd been touching

r reply in a good-temper

he wine-bubbles in his brain, and he flung out a far thought for relief: "How, if I were to leave England with that dark girl Rhoda at Wrexby, marry her like a man, and live a wild rampin

ouse for a sight of Mrs. Lovell, and at

-morrow. You have tossed trinkets into my lap. They were marks of esteem, my cousin. Take them in the same light back from me. Turn them into money, and pay what is most pressing. Then go

burst out, and the corners

he royalty of his soul, and they are the last things which should be mentioned to him as matters to be blotted out

pened at any minut

ce, and he would have won easy. He was winning. He passed the stand a head ahead. He did win. It's a scandal to the Turf. There

said Mrs. Lovell, "don't menti

uld we submit to a robb

istocq, says we can't l

imself with de

he's

tate

l scanned

speak of other things: I have had no letter of late from Edward. He should be

ed Algernon; and added

e best she can do. She deserves p

eading on his cousin's behalf, when Mrs. Love

in certain cases,

t it f

If that were so, I shou

ly declared that he t

f his bewilderme

Algy, if you can get an appointment; which must be

y that he would not, and dog

all on you," s

mething angrily, when

she is

he had so much to inquire about, and so much to

e box. His ears were surcharged with sound entirely foreign to his emotions, and he strolled out of the house and off to his dingy chambers, now tenanted by himself alone, and there faced the sealed letters addressed to Edward, which had, by order, not been forward

the sex, he felt justified in despising all. "Just like women! They-no! Peggy Lovell isn't. She's a trump card, and she's a coquette-can't help being one. It's in the blood. I never saw her look so confoundedly lo

ng-book which his livel

fterthought, he went to

the day's ended before

re open and read with disgusted laughter. It was signed "N. Sedgett." Algernon read it twice over, for the enjoyme

ybody abused Algernon for his abuse of common Queen's English in his epistles: but here was a letter in comparison with which his own were doctoria

you rascal, if you could disguise your hand-that, I don't doubt. You 'expeck the thousand pound to be paid down t

s hands. He compressed a desire to dispute with Sedgett that

n a firm of attorneys t

one thousand pounds

ocument gave Algernon a feeling of profoun

the way to Wr