112 EACECOURSE AND COVEET SIDE. 



CHAPTER II. 



TWO TRIALS. 



The sun, just rising on a certain morning in 

 mid- October, displayed a picturesque autumn 

 landscape, enlivened by two figures. A young 

 man of some two and tbirty leaned on a gate, 

 holding the hand of a charming girl some ten 

 years his junior. She was evidently prepared 

 for the chill of the early morning, for thick 

 boots made her little feet appear all the more 

 delicate, and, in addition to a neatly-fitting coat, 

 a thick scarf was arranged round her neck. Her 

 companion was clad simply in a tweed coat, 

 breeches, and butcher boots, to which latter a 

 pair of spurs were fixed, and in his hand he held 

 a cutting whip. It was indeed Clive Herries 

 and Mabel Roydon. She is the first to speak. 



" It seems dreadful to come out here by 

 myself at this time, but if the race means all 

 you think, I know I could not have contained 

 myself indoors, and so I have slipped out as you 

 said." 



" You are a darling to come ; but then you 

 are a darling always. I was half afraid, as I 

 rode along, that you would miss the place ; and 



