and satisfied it by imitating the fortunate
others, the pangs came on again at five or
six o'clock, and you struggled with them
through the evening, and then went famished
to bed. Given a healthy appetite, limited
means, a position necessitating clean linen
and a whole coat, together with a thirst for
pleasure, and a dread of debt, and what are
the results upon the life of a youth who is
launched upon the world of London without
a friend? I know what they were
with me: I starved.

The evening's amusement often made the
morning's reflection take the shape of a
resolve to skip dinner that day; and I
have known a visit to the theatre and a
modest supper afterwards make me dinnerless
for a week. For pride was at stake,
and it was sometimes necessary to eat,
and, what was worse, to pay for food one
could have done without, for the sake of
instructive or amusing society; and in so
doing sacrifice the genuine meal at a
regular hour. Yet no one could be better or
stronger than I was then; why, therefore,
should I be condemned to this absurd
punctiliousness, this fidgetting regularity
now?

Thus I mused, savagely and unreasonably
enough. "You want to do as I do?
Would be quite satisfied if you might make
such a meal as you saw me eat at the
Ropers?" repeated my doctor, at my next
visit, with an irritatingly healthy smile (I
had suggested that aspiration, he being a
tremendous diner); "my dear sir, I allow
nothing to interfere with my exercise. Two
hours every day on horseback, one hundred
and twenty minutes good jolting on my cob,
be my inclination, or my engagements, or
the weather what they will, keeps me right."
Horse-exercise, in brief, was the only thing
for me.

Horse-exercise, quotha! How was I to
do it? When was I to begin? To ride for
health, to undergo a prescribed number
of jogs and shakes in public for the sake
of my private weal, to mount outside a
prancing beast three or four days a week
with a profound uncertainty as to the time
and manner of my coming off again—the
mere notion took my breath away! I
determined to make cautious inquiries
among men who rode. They were not all
born to the purple, I said to myself,
encouragingly. Some must have taken to
equestrian display comparatively late in life;
who knows but they were ordered it as I
have been, and have suffered and
surmounted the qualms which make me dizzy?
A flood of light followed, for I was taken
in hand by friends who knew exactly what
was good for me, who had been through
the same thing themselves, and who
generously permitted me to profit by their
experience. They all had horses to sell or to
recommend. Not common steeds, look
you, but quadrupeds of peculiar action and
special powers, created by Providence and
trained by man for the one end of
stimulating their rider's liver. They were high-
bred, but not too high. They combined
the symmetry of the racer with the blood
and bone of the massive animals shown at
country fairs adorned with plaited ribbons
and led by a stout rope. A "bishop's
cob" was the thing for my weight, "broad
in the back, stout in the pins, but with
plenty of 'go' in him across country," and
he might be had (as a favour) for ninety
pounds. Then there were useful roadsters,
stout geldings, quiet hacks, strong mares,
ponies, all full of promise, as well as
venerable scarecrows which had done great
service in their time, and for whom a kind
master (and a hospital) were the chief
things wanted. I was expected to buy
them all, and seriously offended more than
one friend by not jumping with avidity at
what he proposed. I had changed my
mind, I pleaded. I must have riding-lessons
before I fixed upon a steed; I must
convince myself that I had what they called
"a seat" before I bought anything alive to
sit upon.

Corporal Bump of the Knightsbridge
barracks received me with open arms.
Terms, one guinea for six lessons, horses
found, and the time and attention of the
corporal, or of one of his most trusted
subordinates placed at the disposal of
pupils. How long did a lesson last? Well,
half an hour was about as long as a gentleman
(slowly and critically) "who wasn't
used to riding at all (depreciatory glances at
my legs, figure, and girth, implying plainly
that the common run of the corporal's
pupils were so many Franconis, who only
came to the barracks for a subtle finish to
their style)—as long as such a gentleman
could stand without bein' what you might
call stiff." Were the horses quiet? As
lambs. Should I be able to go out alone
after six lessons? Well, that depended a
good deal upon how I got on; but it was
the corporal's conviction, from what he saw
of me (a steady gaze all over and round
my figure again, but with signs of
approval this time, as if first impressions
were rejected as hasty)—from what he saw