"Everybody joshes Mr. Van about his ridin', but they get over that sudden—the first time he chases hounds with 'em ole Rainbow 'n' him stays right at the head of the procession. I'm waitin' at the club to take the hoss home after the run. When Mr. Van is turnin' him over to me Miss Livingston comes up.
"'I'm so proud of you!' she says to him. 'It was splendid … I told you you could do anything you tried!'
"'Rainbow's the chap who deserves your approval,' says Mr. Van, pointin' to the hoss.
"'Indeed, he does—the old precious!' she says, 'n' rubs her face against Rainbow's nose. Just then Ferguson rides up with a English gink who's a friend of Mr. Van's, 'n' the dame beats it into the club-house. This Englishman is a lord or a duke or somethin', 'n' he's visitin' Mr. Van's brother. Ferguson ain't on Macbeth. He's rode a bay mare that day, 'n' Rainbow has outrun 'n' out-jumped her.
"'That's quite a horse you have there, Van,' Ferguson says. 'A bit leggy—isn't he?'
"'Perhaps he is,' says Mr. Van. 'But I like something that can get over the country.'
"'Going to enter him for the cup?' says Ferguson.
"'I don't know yet,' says Mr. Van, careless. 'I must see the committee, and tell them his antecedents—this horse rather outclasses most hunters.'
"'He doesn't outclass mine, over the cup course, for five thousand!' says Ferguson, gettin' red.
"'Done!' says Mr. Van, quiet-like. 'If the committee says I'm eligible we'll settle it in the cup race. If not, we can run a match.'