At the end of the season the horses went to their summer quarters, and the usual anxiety and curiosity began of wondering what the Confederacy would produce for the next year’s racing. Wild rumours floated about of the horses Lord William was supposed to have bought; the racing and betting people studied all the English, Australian, and American papers in hopes of finding out, or at any rate gleaning some information. The would-be wise gossipers added various horses to his stable with wonderful records, all of which were inventions or at any rate proved incorrect. What was true, and eventually became known, was that he had bought Sprig o’ Myrtle, a well-known and good horse, with a view to taking Highborn down a peg or two. In June I think, at any rate in the hot weather, Lord William sent Westminster, Vixen, Lady Grace, Escapade, Goldleaf and Chester to Bangalore to train. This was chiefly owing to the Calcutta Turf Club having decided not to allow South American horses any longer to be entered in the country-bred class as regards weight. The Western Indian Turf Club not having arrived at any such conclusion, both Vixen and Westminster had a good chance there, making it worth while sending them. Lord William’s prediction was verified, they both won races and many rupees there. Simla was feeling rather miserable trying to face the inevitable, for Lord William’s years of office were drawing to a close. People quarrelled with one another to entertain him and do him honour, and in spite of Lord Bill’s cheery efforts there was a something in the air that spelt depression, for who would, or ever could, take his place? And what were Lord Bill’s feelings in leaving all his kind friends and the haunts of so many happy and successful years? I know he felt lumps in his throat at times, and it seemed to bring home to him that his youth was gone; that suddenly somehow he had become middle-aged, and he had not hitherto realised it. He had been obliged to give up polo, and his health at times was far from satisfactory, although his spirit had never failed, was still unquenched, and after all he had earned a little home life, but against that no one likes leaving a place where they have been a little god. Amongst the most touching of his farewells was from the children at Simla; he gave them a last farewell party at Inverarm, and they presented him with a little remembrance, which was amongst the most valued of his many parting gifts.