"You are very smart,Ernestine,"he said,looking her admiringly.
"One must be smart at Ascot,"she answered,"or stay away.""I've just heard some news,"he continued.
"Yes?"
"Who do you think is here?"
She glanced at him sideways under her lace parasol."Every one Ishould think.""Including,"he said,"Mr.Scarlett Trent!"She grew a shade paler,and leaned for a moment against the rail of the paddock in which they were lounging.
"I thought,"she said,"that the Mazetta Castle was not due till to-day.""She touched at Plymouth in the night,and he had a special train up.He has some horses running,you know.""I suppose,"she remarked,"that he is more of a celebrity than ever now!""Much more,"he answered."If he chooses he will be the lion of the season!By the by,you had nothing of interest from Fred?"She shook her head impatiently.
"Nothing but praises!According to Fred,he's a hero!""I hate him,"Davenant said sulkily.
"And so,"she answered softly,"do I!Do you see him coming,Cecil?""In good company too,"the young man laughed bitterly.
A little group of men,before whom every one fell back respectfully,were strolling through the paddock towards the horses.Amongst them was Royalty,and amongst them also was Scarlett Trent.But when he saw the girl in the white foulard smile at him from the paling he forgot etiquette and everything else.He walked straight across to her with that keen,bright light in his eyes which Fred had described so well in his letter.
"I am very fortunate,"he said,taking the delicately gloved hand into his fingers,"to find you so soon.I have only been in England a few hours."She answered him slowly,subjecting him the while to a somewhat close examination.His face was more sunburnt than ever she had seen a man's,but there was a wonderful force and strength in his features,which seemed to have become refined instead of coarsened by the privations through which he had passed.His hand,as she had felt,was as hard as iron,and it was not without reluctance that she felt compelled to take note of his correct attire and easy bearing.After all he must be possessed of a wonderful measure of adaptability.
"You have become famous,"she said."Do you know that you are going to be made a lion?""I suppose the papers have been talking a lot of rot,"he answered bluntly."I've had a fairly rough time,and I'm glad to tell you this,Miss Wendermott -I don't believe I'd ever have succeeded but for your nephew Fred.He's the pluckiest boy I ever knew.""I am very pleased to hear it,"she answered."He's a dear boy!""He's a brick,"Trent answered."We've been in some queer scrapes together -I've lots of messages for you!By the by,are you alone?""For the moment,"she answered;"Mr.Davenant left me as you came up.I'm with my cousin,Lady Tresham.She's on the lawn somewhere."He looked down the paddock and back to her.
"Walk with me a little way,"he said,"and I will show you Iris before she starts.""You!"she exclaimed.
He pointed to the card.It was surely an accident that she had not noticed it before.Mr.Trent's Iris was amongst the entries for the Gold Cup.
"Why,Iris is the favourite!"
He nodded.
"So they tell me!I've been rather lucky haven't I,for a beginner?
I found a good trainer,and I had second call on Cannon,who's riding him.If you care to back him for a trifle,I think you'll be all right,although the odds are nothing to speak of."She was walking by his side now towards the quieter end of the paddock.
"I hear you have been to Torquay,"he said,looking at her critically,"it seems to have agreed with you.You are looking well!"She returned his glance with slightly uplifted eyebrows,intending to convey by that and her silence a rebuke to his boldness.He was blandly unconscious,however,of her intent,being occupied just then in returning the greetings of passers-by.She bit her lip and looked straight ahead.
"After all,"he said,"unless you are very keen on seeing Iris,Ithink we'd better give it up.There are too many people around her already.""Just as you like,"she answered,"only it seems a shame that you shouldn't look over your own horse before the race if you want to.
Would you like to try alone?"
"Certainly not,"he answered."I shall see plenty of her later.
Are you fond of horses?"
"Very."
"Go to many race-meetings?"
"Whenever I get the chance!-I always come here.""It is a great sight,"he said thoughtfully,looking around him.
"Are you here just for the pleasure of it,or are you going to write about it?"She laughed.
"I'm going to write about some of the dresses,"she said."I'm afraid no one would read my racing notes.""I hope you'll mention your own,"he said coolly."It's'quite the prettiest here."She scarcely knew whether to be amused or offended.
"You are a very downright person,Mr.Trent,"she said.
"You don't expect me to have acquired manners yet,do you?"he answered drily.
"You have acquired a great many things,"she said,"with surprising facility.Why not manners?"He shrugged his shoulders.
