He had backed Right Royal for all he owned. At thought of his want of sense he groaned. "All for a dream of the night," he thought. He was right for weight at eleven naught. Then Em's sweet face rose up in his brain, He cursed his will that had dealt her pain: To hurt sweet Emmy and lose her love Was madman's folly by all above. He saw too well as he crossed the yard That his madman's plunge had borne her hard. "To wring sweet Em like her drunken father, I'd fall at the Pitch and end it rather. Oh I hope, hope, hope, that her golden heart Will give me a word before I start. If I thought our love should have come to wreck, I'd pull Right Royal and break my neck, And Monkery's shoe might kick my brains out That my own heart's blood might wash my stains out. But even if Emmy, my sweet, forgive, I'm a ruined man, so I need not live, For I've backed my horse with my all, by Heaven, To be first in a field of thirty-seven, And good as he is, the dream's a lie." He saw no hope, but to fall and die. As he left the room for the Saddling Paddock He looked as white as the flesh of haddock. But Love, all seeing, though painted blind, Makes wisdom live in a woman's mind: His love knew well from her own heart's bleeding The word of help that her man was needing; And there she stood with her eyes most bright, Ready to cheer her heart's delight. She said, "My darling, I feel so proud To see you followed by all the crowd; And I shall be proud as I see you win. Right Royal, Soyland and Peterkin Are the three I pick, first, second, third. And oh, now listen to what I heard. Just now in the park Sir Norman Cooking Said, 'Harding, how well Right Royal's looking. They've brought him on in the ring, they say.' John said, 'Sir Norman, to-day's his day.' And Sir Norman said, 'If I had a monkey I'd put it on yours, for he looks so spunky.' So you see that the experts think as you. Now, my own own own, may your dream come true, As I know it will, as I know it must; You have all my prayer and my love and trust. Oh, one thing more that Sir Norman said, 'A lot of money has just been laid On the mare Gavotte that no one knows.' He said 'She's small, but, my word, she goes. Since she bears no weight, if she only jumps, She'll put these cracks to their ace of trumps. But,' he said, 'she's slight for a course like this.' That's all my gossip, so there it is. Dear, reckon the words I spoke unspoken, I failed in love and my heart is broken. Now I go to my place to blush with pride As the people talk of how well you ride; I mean to shout like a bosun's mate When I see you lead coming up the straight. Now may all God's help be with you, dear." "Well, bless you, Em, for your words of cheer. And now is the woodcock near the gin. Good-bye. Now, Harding, we'd best begin."