Presently Eleanor said: "Did you ask Bee about colours for the race next week?"
Brat said that he had forgotten.
"Let's go and look them out now. They are in that locker in the saddle room."
So they went back to the stables. The saddle room was empty; Gregg had gone home to his supper; but Eleanor knew where the key was.
"They are practically in ribbons, they are so old," she said as she spread the colours on the table. "They were actually made for Father, and then they were taken in a bit for Simon to wear at point-to-points when he was narrower than he is now. And then let out again when he grew. So they are just hanging together. Perhaps now we'll be able to afford — " She pulled herself up.
"Yes. We'll have a new set."
"I think violet and primrose are nice colours, don't you; but they do fade an unattractive shade. Simon goes blue with cold in the winter, and he says the colours were designed to tone with his face."
They rummaged in the chest, turning up souvenirs of old races. They moved round the saddle room studying the long row of ribbon rosettes, each with its tab under it telling where and how it had been won.
At last Eleanor shut the chest, saying: "It is time we got ready for dinner." She locked the chest and hung up the key. "We'll take the colours with us. I expect they'll fit you all right, since Simon was the last to wear them. But they'll have to be pressed."
She took the colours in her arms, and together they walked out of the saddle-room door and came face to face with Simon.