Tifto, having seen his horse
conveyed to Epsom, had come up to London in order that he might
dine with his partner and hear what was being said about the race
at the Beargarden. The party dining there consisted of
Silverbridge, Dolly Longstaff, Popplecourt, and Tifto. Nidderdale
was to have joined them, but he told them on the day before, with
a sigh, that domestic duties were too strong for him. Lady
Nidderdale,--or if not Lady Nidderdale herself, then Lady
Nidderdale's mother,--was so far potent over the young nobleman as
to induce him to confine his Derby practices to the Derby-day.
Another guest had also been expected, the reason for whose non-
appearance must be explained somewhat at length. Lord Gerald
Palliser, the Duke's second son, was at this time at Cambridge,--
being almost as popular at Trinity as his brother had been at
Christ Church. It was to him quite a matter of course that he
should see his brother's horse run for the Derby. But,
unfortunately, in this very year a stand was being made by the
University pundits against a practice which they thought had
become too general.
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