COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 259 



dashing out looking as fresh as smelts, and had 

 had a pretty long promenade over the sands in 

 the morning. Last year there was such a dreadful 

 rough night on the Firth of Forth that they could 

 not be got across to attend the show at Guisborough, 

 so were all left behind except ' Syren '. That 

 beauty of Guisborough had been kicked and killed 

 since then, and her daughter ' Symmetry ' was one of 

 the three couple. ' Dairymaid ' let them down a bit. 

 If she was the omega, ' Bonny Lass ' was quite the 

 alpha of the lot, great quality and bone to the foot, 

 a point in which ' Charmer ' was deficient. The rest 

 not very remarkable, but smart and clever, and look- 

 ing quite a terror to a fox. The Cheshire were out 

 again, and Sir Watkin was sweet on the yellow pies. 

 Then the Yarborough and Lord Wemyss, and the 

 final discussion began in earnest. Captain Williams 

 whipped out his tape line once more. Major Fletcher, 

 who had rather lain off, drew forward. Mr. Milbanke 

 took one of his long quiet surveys, pencil in hand, 

 and Sir Watkin drew his hand across his face as if 

 in judicial difficulties. The Cheshire could not win 

 with one couple, and had too much flesh. The 

 Yarborough not well put together, and seemed un- 

 even. So it was reduced to a Scottish contest, — 

 Fife V. Coldstream. The issue was narrowed to 

 two and a half couple, by settling that ' Dairymaid ' 

 should be set off against ' Rubicon,' and then the 

 Fife had it unanimously. Then the photographing 

 began. Mr, Thomson sat on the reserve seat, a 



sort of committee of taste. Jack Parker had finished 



17 * 



