de, or threaded his way in and
out among the horses. He even spoke to one or two jockeys whom he had
once known, but none seemed to identify him.

Despite the crowd and the horses, the ladies on the stand and the
members in the enclosure, however, it was a lonely business, and his
face lightened as he caught sight of May Haredale seated by herself on
one of the stands. He made his way eagerly to her side. She turned and
smiled upon him. There was a healthy flush on her face. Her eyes were
sparkling, and yet there was a suspicion of anxiety about her which
Fielden had noticed more than once lately.

"Why are you alone?" he asked.

"Oh, it has only been the last few minutes," May explained. "We have a
colt running in this race, and my father has gone to give instructions
to his jockey. By the way, how badly your horses have cut up to-day. No,
I am not particularly interested in this race, and I haven't so much as
a pair of gloves on it."

"Then what do you say to a stroll?" Fielden suggested. "It is cold, and
we look like having another fall of snow. I couldn't see the three
o'clock race for the snow. Positively I hadn't the faintest notion what
had won till I saw the numbers go up. Let us walk across the course to
the starting-point and back. We shall have plenty of time."

May consented, and soon they were beyond the enclosure and past the
white posts and rails towards the patch of gorse across the Downs, where
the starter was already fidgeting about on his cob. Away from the noise
and excitement of the ring the flush faded from May's face, and her eyes
seemed inexpressibly sad.

"What's the matter?" Fielden asked anxiously. "We all change as we grow
older. I suppose I am different from what I used to be. But I don't like
to see you so quiet. It is so foreign to your nature, May. There was a
time when you were all laughter and sunshine. Oh, dear, what a fool I
have been, to be sure. How different things might have been if I had
only had a little common sense. You don't know how I blame myself."

"Were you altogether to blame?" May asked. "I don't think so. You had no
one to look after you from the time you were at school till you came
into your property. You were merely a boy then, and you behaved like
one."

"Oh, I know, I know," Fielden sighed. "But that's all past and done
with. But don't talk about me. I am far more interested in you. I hope
nothing has happened to increase your anxiety. You know what I mea