28 In Scarlet and Silk 



also slightly lame behind. Nothing for it 



but to walk l)ack to B . How I hate 



walking ! and walking in top-boots, which 

 surely, though unostentatiously, chafes away 

 all the skin from your heels, is doubly hor- 

 rible. I shall never forget that melancholy 

 tramp, driving the now thoroughly dejected 

 young 'un in front of me as I went. Then 

 it came on to rain ! There was only one 

 thing needed to complete my w'oe. I did not 

 have to wait long for it. 



Two miles from B— — I was overtaken by 

 a splashed and ridiculously happy looking 

 man in pink. 



" Halloa, old chap, you do look a picture. 

 We've had the very best gallop of the ivliole 

 season ! " he exclaimed. 



I knew it. I was as certain that when my 

 chance was settled they would have the " best 

 gallop of the season " as I w^as of death and 

 quarter day ! 



" It keeps one young ! " said one of the 

 " Grand Old Men " of the chase to me a 

 short time since, and his words, verily, are 



