to its place, and then
Isobel and the two Miss Hunters prepared to enjoy the scene.

It was a very gay one. The course was at present covered with a throng
of natives in their bright colored garments, and mixed with them were
the scarlet uniforms of the Sepoys of the 103d and other regiments.
On the opposite side were a number of native vehicles of various
descriptions, and some elephants with painted faces and gorgeous
trappings, and with howdahs shaded by pavilions glittering with gilt and
silver.

On either side of their vehicle a long line of carriages was soon formed
up, and among these were several occupied by gayly dressed natives,
whose rank gave them an entrance to the privileged inclosure. The
carriages were placed three or four yards back from the rail, and the
intervening space was filled with civilian and military officers, in
white or light attire, and with pith helmet or puggaree; many others
were on horseback behind the carriages.

"It is a bright scene, Miss Hannay," the Doctor said, coming up to the
carriage.

"Wonderfully pretty, Doctor!"

"An English race course doesn't do after this, I can tell you. I went
down to the Derby when I was at home, and such an assembly of riff raff
I never saw before and never wish to see again."

"These people are more picturesque, Dr. Wade," Mrs. Hunter said, "but
that is merely a question of garment; these people perhaps are no more
trustworthy than those you met on the racecourse at home."

"I was speaking of them purely as a spectacle; individually I have no
doubt one would be safer among the English roughs and betting men than
among these placid looking natives. The one would pick your pockets of
every penny you have got if they had the chance, the other would cut
your throat with just as little compunction."

"You don't really mean that, Dr. Wade?" Isobel said.

"I do indeed, Miss Hannay; the Oude men are notorious brawlers and
fighters, and I should say that the roughs of Cawnpore and Lucknow could
give long odds to those of any European city, and three out of four of
those men you see walking about there would not only cut the throat of a
European to obtain what money he had about him, but would do so without
that incentive, upon the simple ground that he hated us."

"But why should he hate us, Doctor? he is none the worse off now than he
was before we annexed the country."

"Well, yes, that class of man is worse off. In the old days every noble
an