122 BACECOUESE AND COVEET SIDE. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE BACE. 



The promise of a fine day on the morning set 

 apart for the race was warmly welcomed, 

 and, moreover, was handsomely kept. The first 

 contest was put down for 1.30, and before one 

 the course at Mowington was thronged. The 

 farmers for many miles around, in all sorts of 

 vehicles drawn by all sorts of cattle, were plenti- 

 fully represented, while their wives and daughters 

 attended, for the most part gorgeously clad. 

 Red coats were familiar objects, for the garrison 

 at Coltsford had gone racing with one accord, 

 and five or six drags gave character to the mis- 

 cellaneous array of carriages. Mounted men 

 mingled with the throng by the rails, or, to be 

 more accurate, by the ropes, which marked oft 

 the finish, and an improvised grand stand was 

 well filled. 



Prominent among the drags was Sir Henry 

 Selstead's coach, and on the box by her ladyship's 

 side was seated Mabel Roydon. But for the 

 anxiety this w^ould have been an altogether 

 delightful excursion for Mabel, the more so as 

 her aunt was not present. That lady had been 



