"
The race meeting came off three weeks after Miss Hannay arrived
at Cawnpore. She had been to several dinners and parties by this
time, and began to know most of the regular residents.
The races served as an excuse for people to come in from all the
stations round. Men came over from Lucknow, Agra, and Allahabad,
and from many a little outlying station; every bungalow in the
cantonment was filled with guests, and tents were erected for the
accommodation of the overflow.
Several of the officers of the 103d had horses and ponies entered
in the various races. There was to be a dance at the club on the
evening of the second day of the races, and a garden party at the
General's on that of the first. Richards and Wilson had both ponies
entered for the race confined to country tats which had never won
a race, and both had endeavored to find without success what was
Isobel's favorite color.
"But you must have some favorite color?" Wilson urged.
"Why must I, Mr. Wilson? One thing is suitable for one thing and
one another, and I always like a color that is suitable for the
occasion."
"But what color are you going to wear at the races, Miss Hannay?"
"Well, you see, I have several dresses," Isobel said gravely, "and
I cannot say until the morning arrives which I may wear; it will
depend a good deal how I feel. Besides, I might object to your
wearing the same color as I do. You remember in the old times,
knights, when they entered the lists, wore the favors that ladies
had given them.
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