the General's on that
of the first. Richards and Wilson had both ponies entered for the
race confined to country tats which had never won a race, and both had
endeavored to find without success what was Isobel's favorite color.

"But you must have some favorite color?" Wilson urged.

"Why must I, Mr. Wilson? One thing is suitable for one thing and one
another, and I always like a color that is suitable for the occasion."

"But what color are you going to wear at the races, Miss Hannay?"

"Well, you see, I have several dresses," Isobel said gravely, "and I
cannot say until the morning arrives which I may wear; it will depend a
good deal how I feel. Besides, I might object to your wearing the same
color as I do. You remember in the old times, knights, when they entered
the lists, wore the favors that ladies had given them. Now I have no
idea of giving you a favor. You have done nothing worthy of it. When
you have won the Victoria Cross, and distinguished yourself by some
extraordinarily gallant action, it will be quite time to think about
it."

"You see one has to send one's color in four days beforehand, in time
for them to print it on the card," the lad said; "and besides, one has
to get a jacket and cap made."

"But you don't reflect that it is quite possible your pony won't win
after all, and supposing that I had colors, I certainly should not like
to see them come in last in the race. Mr. Richards has been asking me
just the same thing, and, of course, I gave him the same answer. I can
only give you the advice I gave him."

"What was that, Miss Hannay?" Wilson asked eagerly.

"Well, you see, it is not very long since either of you left school, so
I should think the best thing for you to wear are your school colors,
whatever they were."

And with a merry laugh at his look of discomfiture, Isobel turned away
and joined Mrs. Doolan and two or three other ladies who were sitting
with her.

"There is one comfort," Mrs. Doolan was just saying, "in this country,
when there is anything coming off, there is no occasion to be anxious as
to the weather; one knows that it will be hot, fine, and dusty. One can
wear one's gayest dress without fear. In Ireland one never knew whether
one wanted muslin or waterproof until the morning came, and even then
one could not calculate with any certainty how it would be by twelve
o'clock. This will be your first Indian festivity, Miss Hannay."

"Do the natives come much?"

"I