THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUXT. 211 



" I say," bleated Binkie, as he looked down the list of 

 competitors' names on the card, " I don't think I shall win 

 that cup, do you?" and he winked vacuously at Konald, as 

 if he thought he had said something funny. 



"No; but 'you never know your luck.' Perhaps it'll 

 come into the family in some other way," was the meaning 

 answer. 



Ten minutes before the first race was timed to start, th& 

 Duke drove across the course, and into the reserved enclosure, 

 with a splendid team of browns. His Grace was an accom- 

 plished whip, and never appeared to better advantage than 

 when driving a coach. Pulling up in a capital position,, 

 he lightly swung the thong of his whip round the stock 

 in proper workman-like fashion, unbuckled his reins, and 

 dropped them on to the wheelers' backs. Then he leisurely 

 descended from the box seat and, after lighting a cigar, strolled 

 across to the saddling paddock. 



The Binkies had a luncheon-table behind their carriage,. 

 and this was being rapidly laid out with all kinds of dainties 

 by the magnificent Mortimer and a small army of attendant 

 satellites. Luncheon was not to be served until the first race 

 was over, when both Ronald and his friend Prince Baboojee 

 were to join them. Adela Comely, too, had promised Penelope 

 to come, parti}', it must be admitted, at Ronald's earnest 

 instigation ; he wanted to make things as pleasant as possible 

 for the Binkies, in his own interests, and knew that Adela. 

 would be a safe ' draw ' for the Duke. 



The numbers went up for the first race, the Farmers' Plate, 

 three miles, open to all horses belonging to those farming or 

 owning not less than 100 acres within the country hunted 



p2 



