Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/253

Peterkin "She told me that backing horses was the first step in the broad path which leads to destruction," he murmured moodily, groping for his collar stud. " Said she had reason to know… How can she? I suppose the old chap's been making a plunge. It's a rotten hole to be in."

It was. Two days before, Georgie, forgetting his promise, had put twenty pounds on Peterkin. And Peterkin had won.

"Ten to one she'll never hear about it," he thought. "I shall never be able to explain why I did it. She's so beastly particular about these things."

He peered down through the open window at the dusky garden.

Some of the girls were sauntering up and down the terrace already. He noticed how prettily their flimsy, shimmering dresses caught the lights; clear green, glowing yellow, and delicate blue, from the swaying lanterns, and then he saw Diana.

She smiled up at his window. "Hurry up, Georgie!" cried she. 237