such spur, he grew
careless, and after barely shaking down the bar twice at 4 feet 3
inches, kicked it off awkwardly the third time, and so retired an easy
victor, and quite overcome by the applause of the now crowded field.

Then came the event of the day--the Open Mile, for which Tempest and
Redwood were the only combatants. I felt myself growing as nervous as
if I were running myself.

For my instinct told me that the welfare of Sharpe's more or less hung
on the issue. Could Tempest but win, there would be no doubt that he
would return to the headship of the house with an eclat which even
Crofter would have to yield to. If not, Crofter might still hang on to
the reins and claim his doubtful rights.

A complication of an unexpected kind arose now. The Misses Redwood were
quite sufficiently _au fait_ with the etiquette of a race-course to know
that if their brother ran he must win, and that everybody else must wish
him to win. In an unguarded moment I joined in the cheer which greeted
Tempest as he appeared stripped for action on his way to the starting-
post. This was taken up as a grievous personal affront. The young
ladies repudiated and flung me from them with an energy and disgust
which quite astonished me. They loudly clamoured for my removal, and
failing that, made a concerted retreat from my detested vicinity.

"Nasty horrid Sarah, go away!" they shouted.

Then spying Dicky Brown in the distance, they shrieked on him to deliver
them.

"Want to go _to Dicky_--dear Dicky. Get away from Sarah."

And suiting the action to the word they swarmed over the back of the
bench, and started in full cry for the enviable Dicky.

Richard, however, was an old bird for his years, and did not, or
pretended not to hear their siren voices, and sheered off into the open
just in the nick of time. Whereupon the Misses Redwood redoubled their
clamour, and could only be allured back to the shelter of my fatigued
wing by my going to them and audibly bawling in their faces, "Bravo,
Redwood! go it, Redwood!"

On these terms they surrendered, and the difficulty, at the cost indeed
of my reputation as a loyal "Sharper" was temporarily tided over.

It was noticed that Tempest, though cool as ever, was pale, and carried
his left hand, while he stood waiting, in the opening of his waistcoat.
I saw Redwood go to him and say something, pointing as he did so to the
hand. Tempest's reply was a flush and a laugh as he removed