orse over from Lucknow."

"What chance has he?"

"I have not the least idea, Miss Hannay. I did not hear any betting on
this race at all."

"That is a nice horse, uncle," Isobel said, as one with a rider in black
jacket, with red cap, came past.

"That is Delhi. Yes, it has good action."

"That is mine," the eldest Miss Hunter said.

"The rider is a good looking young fellow," the Doctor said, "and is
perfectly conscious of it himself. Who is he, Wilson? I don't know him."

"He is a civilian. Belongs to the public works, I think."

The other horses now came along, and after short preliminary canters the
start was made. To Isobel's disappointment her horse was never in the
race, which Delhi looked like winning until near the post, when a rather
common looking horse, which had been lying a short distance behind him,
came up with a rush and won by a length.

"I don't call that fair," Miss Hunter said, "when the other was first
all along. I call that a mean way of winning, don't you, father?"

"Well, no, my dear. It was easy to see for the last quarter of a mile
that the other was making what is called 'a waiting race' of it, and
was only biding his time. There is nothing unfair in that, I fancy Delhi
might have won if he had had a better jockey. His rider never really
called upon him till it was too late. He was so thoroughly satisfied
with himself and his position in the race that he was taken completely
by surprise when Moonshee came suddenly up to him."

"Well, I think it is very hard upon Delhi, father, after keeping ahead
all the way and going so nicely. I think everyone ought to do their best
from the first."

"I fancy you are thinking, Miss Hunter," the Doctor said, "quite as much
that it is hard on you being beaten after your hopes had been raised, as
it is upon the horse."

"Perhaps I am, Doctor," she admitted.

"I think it is much harder on me," Isobel said. "You have had the
satisfaction of thinking all along that your horse was going to win,
while mine never gave me the least bit of hope."

"The proper expression, Miss Hannay, is, your horse never flattered
you."

"Then I think it is a very silly expression, Mr. Wilson, because I don't
see that flattery has anything to do with it."

"Ah, here is Bathurst," the Doctor said. "Where have you been, Bathurst?
You slipped away from me just now."

"I've just been talking to the Commissioner, Doctor. I have been trying
to get him to see--"

"Wh