t's nothing at all to
Mick--Mick is a pedigree dog, six months old, with the finest coat and
the loveliest head you ever saw. If I lost him----" But here she
stopped. "It's unlucky to say that, isn't it?" she added quickly. "Of
course I'm not going to lose him."

Again she turned and fondled the mare; and a moment later they came
into view of the long, level fields that lay between the house and the
sea, and saw the erect figure of Larry clearly silhouetted against the
sky, as he sat his cob with the ease of the born horseman.

It took Milbanke but a few minutes to place himself in a safe and
advantageous position on a ditch that, dividing two of the fields, was
to form the last jump of the race. And once ensconced in this pleasant
and not uncomfortable seat, he watched the cousins move across the
fields to the point where little Nance was waiting to arrange the
preliminaries. He saw Clodagh mount the grey mare, observed the one or
two inevitable false starts, then became conscious with a quickening of
interest that the race had begun.

Had he been possessed of the humorous quality he would undoubtedly have
been drawn into a smile at his own position; as it was, he saw nothing
ludicrous in the idea of an elderly student seated on an Irish ditch,
playing umpire to a couple of children. As the horses started, he
merely settled himself more securely in his seat, and drew out his
handkerchief in obedience to the instinct that some expression of
enthusiasm would be demanded by the winner. He could not picture
himself raising a cheer as the conqueror sailed past him; but his
dignity affably bent to the idea of a friendly wave of a handkerchief.

A slight breeze was blowing in from the sea, and the intense freshness
of the atmosphere again obtruded itself upon him as he watched the
horses swing towards him across the fields, the thud of their hoofs
upon the grass gaining in volume with every stride.

For a space they galloped neck to neck; then slowly, almost
imperceptibly, Clodagh drew away. For a couple of seconds the distance
between the animals became noticeable; then young Asshlin, urging the
chestnut, regained his lost position, and to Milbanke's eyes the two
were again abreast as they crossed the last field.

Once more he settled himself in his place of vantage. Something in the
freshness of the morning, something in the youth and vitality of the
competitors gave the race an interest and attraction it would otherw