Mabel turned sleepily.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Time to get up,” was the reply. “It’s almost eight o’clock. This is Derby day.”
“So it is,” exclaimed Mabel, awake in an instant now.
She jumped out of bed and the girls dressed quickly.
Mr. Willing and the others were already up and dressed when the girls came from their rooms, and they all went down to breakfast together.
It was during the meal that Mr. Willing was suddenly called by a page.
“Gentleman to see you sir,” said the boy.
Mr. Willing excused himself and left the dining room. He was back in a few minutes, however, and said to Shirley:
“The rest of you will have to come to the track by yourselves. I have some business to attend to. I’ll meet you there. I’ll leave the car for you.”