222 A Lucky AT is take 



stand, or on the trainers' stand, or in a carriage over 

 the way. Let's go and see them canter, and get a good 

 corner to watch the race from. Smith does his work 

 well. I think it ought to average close on nines from 

 what I can make out.' 



' Must be about that,' the other rejoined. ' By Jove ! 

 If it comes off, old chap, I shall be thankful ! It'll 

 put me straight and a good bit over to go on with. I 

 wrote to tell Ethel tliat everything depended on your 

 winning.' 



* Poor little girl ! When will she know, I wonder ? 

 A girl can't go down to the club and see the winner 

 come up on the tape, and I don't suppose they take an 

 evening paper,' Cranleigh said. ' There's Smith — no, it 

 isn't,' he added, after another look into the ring. ' I 

 don't see him, and it's no good searching. Let's go up ! 

 There they come. That little chesnut brute goes well, 

 there's no denying,' he observed, as the favourite swept 

 past, and cries of ' 5 to 2 on the field ! ' showed that others 

 admired her as well. ' But I'm quite satisfied with mine 

 all the same,' and there was ground for satisfaction 

 with the movement of the handsome bay. So they 

 settled down into their places and adjusted their glasses, 

 Ashdown's mind for the moment oblivious to the scene 

 before him as two pictures flashed through his brain. 

 One was of a friendly old lawyer sitting in his chambers, 

 with a grave expression on his kindly face, as he 

 declared — for so, if this orange jacket did not come 

 home first, he would have to declare — that the misfortune 

 was not to be averted — the old place must go. The other 

 picture was of a chesnut-haired girl sitting pensively in 

 her pretty boudoir, a look of keen anxiety on her 

 delicate features, and of mingled hope and sadness in 



