"That's better," said Julius; "though I never even said it justified
the suspicion, any more than I said that balls might not easily be
overdone, especially by _some_ people."
"But you don't defend races?" said Anne.
"No; I think the mischief they do is more extensive, and has less
mitigation than is the case with any other public amusement."
"H'm!" said Rosamond. "Many a merry day have I had on the top of
the regimental drag; so perhaps there's nothing of which you would
not suspect me."
"I'll tell you what I more than suspect you of," said Julius, "of
wearing a gay bonnet to be a bait and a sanction to crowds of young
girls, to whom the place was one of temptation, though not to you."
"Oh, there would be no end to it if one thought of such things."
"Or the young men who--"
"Well," broke in Rosamond, "it was always said that our young
officers got into much less mischief than where there was a
straight-laced colonel, who didn't go along with them to give them a
tone."
"That I quite believe. I remember, too, the intense and breathless
sense of excitement in the hush and suspense of the multitude, and
the sweeping by of the animals--"
"Then you've been!" cried his wife.
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