“This! Oh, this contains our veils,” answered Dick, unrolling the parcel and displaying yards of blue, green, mauve, brown and gray barège. “Our—_what_?” “Veils for the Derby. I saw other fellows buying veils and they told me it was the usual thing to keep off the dust, you know. There, Anna, there’s a blue one for you. Needn’t take the trouble to hem it; nobody does; it is only to be used for one occasion, and is never fit for anything else afterwards. Here, Drusa, you may have the green one; and little Lenny the mauve; and now, uncle, here are two—a gray and a brown, for you and me. I thought you would like a subdued color best, as I do. We are to tie them around our hats,” said Dick, offering the choice of the remaining veils to the General. The veteran soldier laughed and shook his head. “But, uncle, every gentleman wears a veil.” “Nonsense, Dick! somebody has been selling you.” “Indeed, no, they were all buying veils and fastening them on to their hats.” “Then I’ll be hanged if I make myself ridiculous by wearing a veil like a girl.” “Well, then, you’ll get yourself blinded, deafened, stupefied and suffocated by the dust—eyes, ears, nostrils and bronchial tubes will all be filled.” “I should like to know where the dust is to come from on such a day as this? Do you see how it is raining?” “Don’t know, sir! only know what the fellows here tell me.” “They are quizzing you, as I said before, that’s my opinion.” While he spoke the door was opened and Mr. Spencer and Mr. Tredegar were announced. These were two young Americans, who had been fellow-students with Dick Hammond, and whom the General had met on the day before and invited to breakfast and to go to the Derby with his party. After bowing to the ladies and shaking hands with the gentlemen, the new-comers took the seats offered them, and commenced upon the all-engrossing subject of the hour. “Fine day for the Derby, sir!” said Mr. Spencer, who had been three years in London attached to the American Minister’s _suite_, and might be supposed to be posted on the subject. “Very fine day for the Derby.” “Fine day! Why, do you see how it is raining?” demanded the General, in surprise. “Drizzling, sir, drizzling; just enough to lay the dust.” “Dust! ah! by the way that reminds me! Here is a lunatic has brought an assortment of veils, and he says we must each wear one—men and women both.” “Oh, yes, sir—the regular thing, you know, like the train at court. It is to protect the wearer from the smothering dust.” “But,” said the General, frowning, “as I was just asking my nephew when you came in, where is the dust to come from on such a day as this?” “Oh, sir, it may clear up by the time we shall be coming home. And it is in the home-coming we raise the sirocco. We must be prepared for the worst.” “Worst? Do you call clear weather the worst?”