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longing for his love。 What was it all worth； what was anything
worth in a world like this？ All was loathsome； herself loathsome！
All was a void！ Hateful； hateful； hateful！ It was like having no
heart at all！ And that same evening； when her husband had gone
down to the House； she wrote to Lennan：
〃Our love must never turn to earthiness as it might have this
afternoon。 Everything is black and hopeless。 HE suspects。 For
you to come here is impossible； and too dreadful for us both。 And
I have no right to ask you to be furtive； I can't bear to think of
you like that； and I can't bear it myself。 I don't know what to do
or say。 Don't try to see me yet。 I must have time； I must think。〃
XIII
Colonel Ercott was not a racing man； but he had in common with
others of his countrymen a religious feeling in the matter of the
Derby。 His remembrances of it went back to early youth； for he had
been born and brought up almost within sound of the coaching…road
to Epsom。 Every Derby and Oaks day he had gone out on his pony to
watch the passing of the tall hats and feathers of the great； and
the pot…hats and feathers of the lowly； and afterwards； in the
fields at home； had ridden races with old Lindsay； finishing
between a cow that judged and a clump of bulrushes representing the
Grand Stand。
But for one reason or another he had never seen the great race； and
the notion that it was his duty to see it had now come to him。 He
proposed this to Mrs。 Ercott with some diffidence。 She read so
many bookshe did not quite know whether she would approve。
Finding that she did； he added casually：
〃And we might take Olive。〃
Mrs。 Ercott answered dryly：
〃You know the House of Commons has a holiday？〃
The Colonel murmured：
〃Oh！ I don't want that chap！〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Mrs。 Ercott； 〃you would like Mark Lennan。〃
The Colonel looked at her most dubiously。 Dolly could talk of it
as a tragedy； and aa grand passion； and yet make a suggestion
like that！ Then his wrinkles began slowly to come alive； and he
gave her waist a squeeze。
Mrs。 Ercott did not resist that treatment。
〃Take Olive alone；〃 she said。 〃I don't really care to go。〃
When the Colonel went to fetch his niece he found her ready； and
very half…heartedly he asked for Cramier。 It appeared she had not
told him。
Relieved； yet somewhat disconcerted； he murmured：
〃He won't mind not going； I suppose？〃
〃If he went； I should not。〃
At this quiet answer the Colonel was beset again by all his fears。
He put his white 'topper' down； and took her hand。
〃My dear；〃 he said； 〃I don't want to intrude upon your feelings；
butbut is there anything I can do？ It's dreadful to see things
going unhappily with you！〃 He felt his hand being lifted； her face
pressed against it； and； suffering acutely； with his other hand；
cased in a bright new glove； he smoothed her arm。 〃We'll have a
jolly good day； sweetheart；〃 he said； 〃and forget all about it。〃
She gave the hand a kiss and turned away。 And the Colonel vowed to
himself that she should not be unhappylovely creature that she
was； so delicate； and straight； and fine in her pearly frock。 And
he pulled himself together； brushing his white 'topper' vigorously
with his sleeve； forgetting that this kind of hat has no nap。
And so he was tenderness itself on the journey down； satisfying all
her wants before she had them； telling her stories of Indian life；
and consulting her carefully as to which horse they should back。
There was the Duke's； of course； but there was another animal that
appealed to him greatly。 His friend Tabor had given him the tip
Tabor； who had the best Arabs in all Indiaand at a nice price。 A
man who practically never gambled； the Colonel liked to feel that
his fancy would bring him in something really substantialif it
won； the idea that it could lose not really troubling him。
However； they would see it in the paddock； and judge for
themselves。 The paddock was the place； away from all the dust and
racketOlive would enjoy the paddock！ Once on the course； they
neglected the first race； it was more important； the Colonel
thought； that they should lunch。 He wanted to see more colour in
her cheeks； wanted to see her laugh。 He had an invitation to his
old regiment's drag； where the champagne was sure to be good。 And
he was so proud of herwould not have missed those young fellows'
admiration of her for the world； though to take a lady amongst them
was； in fact； against the rules。 It was not； then； till the second
race was due to start that they made their way into the paddock。
Here the Derby horses were being led solemnly； attended each by a
little posse of persons； looking up their legs and down their ribs
to see whether they were worthy of support； together with a few who
liked to see a whole horse at a time。 Presently they found the
animal which had been recommended to the Colonel。 It was a
chestnut； with a starred forehead； parading in a far corner。 The
Colonel； who really loved a horse； was deep in admiration。 He
liked its head and he liked its hocks； above all； he liked its eye。
A fine creature； all sense and fireperhaps just a little straight
in the shoulder for coming down the hill！ And in the midst of his
examination he found himself staring at his niece。 What breeding
the child showed； with her delicate arched brows； little ears； and
fine； close nostrils； and the way she movedso sure and springy。
She was too pretty to suffer！ A shame！ If she hadn't been so
pretty that young fellow wouldn't have fallen in love with her。 If
she weren't so prettythat husband of hers wouldn't！ And the
Colonel dropped his gaze； startled by the discovery he had stumbled
on。 If she hadn't been so pretty！ Was that the meaning of it all？
The cynicism of his own reflection struck him between wind and
water。 And yet something in himself seemed to confirm it somehow。
What then？ Was he to let them tear her in two between them；
destroying her； because she was so pretty？ And somehow this
discovery of histhat passion springs from worship of beauty and
warmth； of form and colourdisturbed him horribly； for he had no
habit of philosophy。 The thought seemed to him strangely crude；
even immoral。 That she should be thus between two ravening
desiresa bird between two hawks； a fruit between two mouths！ It
was a way of looking at things that had never before occurred to
him。 The idea of a husband clutching at his wife； the idea of that
young man who looked so gentle； swooping down on her； and the idea
that if she faded； lost her looks； went off； their greed； indeed；
any man's； would die awayall these horrible ideas hurt him the
more for the remarkable suddenness with which they had come to him。
A tragic business！ Dolly had said so。 Queer and quickwere
women！ But his resolution that the day was to be jolly soon
recurred to him； and he hastily resumed inspection of his fancy。
Perhaps they ought to have a ten…pound note on it； and they had
better get back to the Stand！ And as they went the Colonel saw；
standing beneath a tree at a little distance； a young man that he
could have sworn was Lennan。 Not likely f