. Can't he see she loves him? He must be
blind if he can't. She'll be taking on somebody else just to show him
she doesn't care, but she does very much indeed."

It was not a late night. Evelyn said they must be fresh for Derby Day.

Ella bade Evelyn good-night as she was about to enter her room.

"I hope you have enjoyed your day," said Eve.

"Very much indeed. How well you do everything!" answered Ella.

"Glad you think so. Do you know, Ella, I fancy you've made a conquest!"

"I haven't had much time," was the laughing reply, "but I don't mind
telling you I'm out for conquest if I come across the right man. I
have Dad's permission; he thinks I shall be left on his hands, and I
don't wish to be a burden to the poor dear."

She spoke lightly, but Eve thought she meant more than she intended to
convey.

"Mr. Chesney admires you I am sure," she said.

"You're quite wrong, my dear; he has eyes for nobody but you. I
noticed it when he was talking to me to-night," said Ella.

As Evelyn had seen Alan much interested in Ella's conversation, and
never had a glance from him, she had her doubts about this.

"Don't talk nonsense," she answered. "You know very well you occupied
the whole of his attention, and one can't blame him; you are really
very charming, and looked quite winning to-night."

Eve went along the corridor and Ella entered her room. She sat in an
easy-chair thinking over the events of the day. The scene at Epsom,
the racing, the excitement of winning did not occupy her; Alan Chesney
predominated to the exclusion of all else. From the first he had
roused her interest, if not something deeper. She found it easy to
tread love's way where he was concerned; she would race along it in her
gladness of heart hoping to win the prize in the end. He had already,
in so short a time, shown her many little attentions. It was his way
with women, but she accepted it exclusively for herself. That evening
he had been interested in what she said; she had been frank and candid,
telling him freely about herself and it had not bored him. She was in
doubt as to how he felt toward Eve. He did not show any special
feeling toward her, of that she was sure, yet some men conceal their
thoughts admirably. When she came to consider Eve it was different;
they were friends, comrades of many years' standing; she was Eve's
guest, had been invited to The Forest to spend some weeks. It would
never do to come between E