she were satisfied or not; her world was charitable to her and
she lived a gay and quite irreproachable life. She wished that she had
not come to the races. It was such an irritating encounter. She opened
her eyes wearily; the dusty track, the flying horses, the gay dresses
of the women on the grandstand, the cloudless blue sky, the brilliant
September sunshine, the purple distances all commingled in a glare
that made her head ache. Before it all she saw the tall figure by her
side, his face turned from her, watching the track intently.

She wondered with a vague curiosity what induced him to come to the
races. Such things were not greatly in his line. Evidently their
chance meeting had not disturbed him. It was a sign that he did not
care. She sighed a little wearily and closed her eyes. When the heat
was over he turned to her.

"May I ask how you have been since--since we met last? You are looking
extremely well. Has Vanity Fair palled in any degree?"

She was angry at herself and him. Where had her careless society
manner and well-bred composure gone? She felt weak and hysterical.
What if she should burst into tears before the whole crowd--before
those coldly critical grey eyes? She almost hated him.

"No--why should it? I have found it very pleasant--and I have been
well--very well. And you?"

He jotted down the score carefully before he replied.

"I? Oh, a book-worm and recluse always leads a placid life. I never
cared for excitement, you know. I came down here to attend a sale of
some rare editions, and a well-meaning friend dragged me out to see
the races. I find it rather interesting, I must confess, much more so
than I should have fancied. Sorry I can't stay until the end. I must
go as soon as the free-for-all is over, if not before. I have backed
'Mascot'; you?"

"'Lu-Lu'" she answered quickly--it almost seemed defiantly. How
horribly unreal it was--this carrying on of small talk, as if they
were the merest of chance-met acquaintances! "She belongs to a friend
of mine, so I am naturally interested."

"She and 'Mascot' are ties now--both have won two heats. One more for
either will decide it. This is a good day for the races. Excuse me."

He leaned over and brushed a scrap of paper from her grey cloak. She
shivered slightly.

"You are cold! This stand is draughty."

"I am not at all cold, thank you. What race is this?--oh! the
three-minute one."

She bent forward with assumed interest to watch t