This will be a warning to us and to others too, I hope. Still, it will not deter us from racing in the future. Nor should it deter others, for the sport is a glorious one and I hope it may become universal in the outer suburbs. Piggott and I will be only too glad to give advice or any other assistance that lies in our power to those who contemplate starting local clubs in and around London. * * * * * [Illustration: _Old Dame_ (_to visitor who has been condoling with her on a recent misfortune_). "OCH, I'M GEY ILL. I'VE BEEN CRYIN' SIN' FOWER THIS MORNIN', AN' I'M JUST GAUN TAE START AGEN AS SOON'S I'VE SIPPIT THIS BICKER O' PARRITCH."] * * * * * WEDDING PRESENTS. All day long I had been possessed by that odd feeling that comes over one unaccountably at times, as of things being a little strange, interesting-- somehow different, so that I was not at all surprised to find the Fairy Queen waiting for me when I entered my flat. It was a warm evening and she sat perched on the tassel of the blind, lightly swaying to and fro in the tiny breeze that came dancing softly over the house-tops. I saw her at once--one is always aware of the presence of the Fairy Queen. I made my very best curtsey and she acknowledged it a little absent- mindedly. "_I_ want _your_ advice this time," she said. I smiled and shook my head deprecatingly. "But how ...?" I began. "It's about Margery and Max," she continued. I was much astonished. "Margery and Max," I echoed slowly. "But surely there's no need to trouble about them. It's a most delightful engagement. They're blissfully happy. I saw Margery only yesterday ..." "Oh, the engagement's all right," said the Queen. "As a matter of fact it was I who really arranged that affair. Of course they think they did it themselves--people always do--but it would never have come off without me. No, the trouble is I don't know what to give them for a wedding present. You see I'm particularly fond of Margery; I've always taken a great interest in her, and I do want them to have something they'll really like. But it's so difficult. They have all the essential things already: youth, health, good fortune, love of course; and I can't go giving them motor-cars and grandfather clocks and unimportant things of that kind. Now can I?" I agreed. As it happened I was in a somewhat similar predicament myself, though from rather different causes. "Can't you think of _anything_?" she asked a little petulantly, evidently annoyed at my inadequacy. I shook my head. "I can't," I said. "But why not find out from them? It's often done. You might ask Margery what Max would like and then sound him about her." The Queen brightened up. "What a good idea!" she said. "I'll go at once." She's very impulsive. She was back again in half-an-hour, looking pleased and excited. Her cheeks were like pink rose-leaves.