Louise Pendleton made no secret of her interest in handsome Jay Gardiner. She built no end of air-castles, all dating from the time when the young man should propose to her. She set out deliberately to win him. Sally watched with bated breath. There could be no love where there was such laughing, genial friendship as existed between Louise and handsome Jay. No, no! If she set about it in the right way, _she_ could win him. As for Jay himself, he preferred dark-eyed Louise to her dashing, golden-haired sister Sally. The climax came when he asked the girls, and also their father and mother, to join a party on his tally-ho and go to the races. Both dressed in their prettiest, and both looked like pictures. The races at Lee were always delightful affairs. Some of the finest horses in the country were brought there to participate in these affairs. As a usual thing, Jay Gardiner entered a number of his best horses; but on this occasion he had not done so. Louise declared that it would have made the races all the more worth seeing had some of his horses been entered. "Don't you think so, Sally?" she said, turning to her sister, with a gay little laugh; but Sally had not even heard, she was thinking so deeply. "She is anticipating the excitement," said Mrs. Pendleton, nodding toward Sally; and they all looked in wonder at the unnatural flush on the girl's cheeks and the strange, dazzling brightness in her blue eyes. They would have been startled if they could have read the thoughts that had brought them there. There was the usual crush of vehicles, for the races at Lee always drew out a large crowd. Jay Gardiner's box was directly opposite the judge's stand, and the group of ladies and gentlemen assembled in it was a very merry one, indeed. Every seat in the grand stand was occupied. Both Louise and Sally were in exuberant spirits. It was the first race which they had ever attended, and, girl-like, they were dying with curiosity to see what it would be like. "Which horse have _you_ picked for the winner?" asked Mr. Pendleton, leaning over and addressing Jay. "Either General or Robin Adair. Both seem to stand an equal chance. Well, I declare!" exclaimed Gardiner, in the same breath, "if there isn't Queen Bess! It's laughable to see _her_ entered for the race. She's very speedy, but she isn't game. I have seen her swerve when almost crowned with victory." Sally Pendleton listened to the conversation with unusual interest. In a few moments all the riders, booted and spurred, came hurrying out from their quarters in response to the sharp clang of a bell, and in a trice had mounted their horses, and were waiting the signal to start. The interest of the great crowd was at its height. They were discussing their favorites freely. The buzz of voices was deafening for a moment. No one noticed Sally, not even Louise or her mother, as she leaned over breathlessly, and said: "Which horse do _you_ think is going to win, Mr. Gardiner?"