the. Wo-ho!--How she pulls! Steady! Come, don't show your temper
with me."

"Of course not, Sir Hilton. Oh! I do wish Syd would come."

She made an effort to free herself, but as she did so, Sir Hilton
snatched at the little figure gliding through his hands, but only caught
a couple of long ribbon streamers depending from the back of a flowing
robe.

"Oh, my frock--you'll tear it!" cried the girl, half in tears; and she
tried to drag herself away, but not vigorously, for fear of damaging the
diaphanous fabric to which the ribbons were attached.

"Father! Father!" cried the girl, faintly; but the trainer did not
stir, and the maids who looked on only glanced at one another as if
saying: "It isn't my place."

All passed very rapidly, as Sir Hilton, in imagination, rode away,
talking rapidly the while.

"Steady, my beauty--steady--that's good--bravo, starter--a capital
line--now then, flag down--no false start--that black beast Jim Crow--
yes, I'll make him jump to another tune. Now then, once more--good--
flag down--now--go--well over! Bravo, my darling!" he cried, making
play with the ribbons, just as Lady Lisle returned, consequent upon, as
the police say, "information received," and stopped short, literally
stunned, at the picture before her, while Molly caught sight of her, and
tried to get away, but in vain.

"Steady, darling, steady!" cried Sir Hilton, who felt the tugging at the
reins. "Don't get in a flurry. We shall win in a canter. Bravo, pet!
Easy--easy, beauty!--Don't tug like that--I don't want to hurt your
dear, tender mouth. That's better. We're going now like the--Bravo--
bravo--that's the way!"

"Oh! Sir Hilton," cried the girl, "don't, pray, don't! Look; can't you
see? Please, ma'am--my lady, it ain't my fault."

"That's right," shouted Sir Hilton, through his teeth. "Good--good--
splendid--now then--we're nearly level--that's it--level--half a length
ahead--now then--we're clear--bravo, little one! There, I've done with
you--splendid--cheer away! Oh, if my wife were only here to see!"

It was as if the excitement under which he had laboured were now all
discharged, and he dropped the imaginary reins, leaving Molly to rush
away up the stairs, just as Lady Lisle, speechless with rage and shame,
made a rush at her husband.

Matters in those moments were almost simultaneous.

Lady Lisle advanced, Syd appeared from the bar with a glass of
soda-water, and dashed back, regardl