k and back to her.

"Walk with me a little way," he said, "and I will show you Iris before
she starts."

"You!" she exclaimed.

He pointed to the card. It was surely an accident that she had not
noticed it before. Mr. Trent's Iris was amongst the entries for the Gold
Cup.

"Why, Iris is the favourite!"

He nodded.

"So they tell me! I've been rather lucky haven't I, for a beginner? I
found a good trainer, and I had second call on Cannon, who's riding
him. If you care to back him for a trifle, I think you'll be all right,
although the odds are nothing to speak of."

She was walking by his side now towards the quieter end of the paddock.

"I hear you have been to Torquay," he said, looking at her critically,
"it seems to have agreed with you. You are looking well!"

She returned his glance with slightly uplifted eyebrows, intending to
convey by that and her silence a rebuke to his boldness. He was blandly
unconscious, however, of her intent, being occupied just then in
returning the greetings of passers-by. She bit her lip and looked
straight ahead.

"After all," he said, "unless you are very keen on seeing Iris, I think
we'd better give it up. There are too many people around her already."

"Just as you like," she answered, "only it seems a shame that you
shouldn't look over your own horse before the race if you want to. Would
you like to try alone?"

"Certainly not," he answered. "I shall see plenty of her later. Are you
fond of horses?"

"Very."

"Go to many race-meetings?"

"Whenever I get the chance!--I always come here."

"It is a great sight," he said thoughtfully, looking around him. "Are
you here just for the pleasure of it, or are you going to write about
it?"

She laughed.

"I'm going to write about some of the dresses," she said. "I'm afraid no
one would read my racing notes."

"I hope you'll mention your own," he said coolly. "It's' quite the
prettiest here."

She scarcely knew whether to be amused or offended.

"You are a very downright person, Mr. Trent," she said.

"You don't expect me to have acquired manners yet, do you?" he answered
drily.

"You have acquired a great many things," she said, "with surprising
facility. Why not manners?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"No doubt they will come, but I shall want a lot of polishing. I
wonder--"

"Well?"

"Whether any one will ever think it worth while to undertake the task."

She raised her eyes and looked him full in th