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She was now dressed in a very fine French grey merino, with a very small crochet-work collar, and, of course, capacious muslin sleeves. The high flounces to her dress set off her smart waist to great advantage. Mrs. Springwheat had got everything ready, and herself too, by the time Lord Scamperdale's second horseman rode into the yard and demanded a stall for his horse.
'With pleasure, replied Mrs. Springwheat, glad to get a little custom for her goods. Most of the gentlemen had been at the bottles and sideboard. Springwheat, seeing Mr.
Springwheat, laughing, 'these are girls, laying her hand on the heads of two of them, who were now full giggle at the idea of being taken for boys. 'Well, they're devilish handsome, anyhow, replied his lordship, thinking he might as well be done with the inspection. Springwheat himself now made his appearance, as fine a sample of a man as his wife was of a woman.
Springwheat, exclaimed he, putting on his hat and seizing both her soft fat-fingered hands and squeezing them ardently. 'Good morning, my dear Mrs. Springwheat, repeated he, adding, 'By Jove! if ever there was an angel in petticoats, you're her; I'd give a hundred pounds for such a wife as you! I'd give a thousand pounds for such a wife as you! By the powers!
'Not a yard, replied his lordship, 'not a yard, and from fourteen to fifteen as the hounds ran. 'It would be all that, assented Jack. 'How long were you in doing it? he asked. 'An hour and forty minutes, replied his lordship; 'an hour and forty minutes from the find to the finish'; adding, 'I'll stick the brush and present it to Mrs. Springwheat.
Jog was very crusty at first, and did little but whip and flog the old horse, and puff and growl about being late, keeping people waiting, over-driving the horse, and so on. 'Have a cigar? at last asked Sponge, opening the well-filled case, and tendering that olive branch to his companion. 'Do you never smoke? asked Sponge. He did not like to say no, because Springwheat smoked, though Mrs.
Liberties of time, forsooth! Mrs. Springwheat was in the heighday of womanhood; and though she had presented Springwheat with twins three times in succession, besides an eldest son, she was as young, fresh-looking, and finely figured as she was the day she was married.
As his lordship was in the full enjoyment of his plateful of meat, he happened to look up, and, the space between him and the window being clear, he saw something that caused him to drop his knife and fork and fall back in his chair as if he was shot. 'My lord's ill! exclaimed Mr. Springwheat, who, being the only man with his nose up, was the first to perceive it.
Five or six of us charged it together, and two went under. One was Springwheat on his bay, who was somewhat pumped out; the other was said to be Hook. Old Daddy Longlegs skimmed it like a swallow, and, getting his hind-legs well under him, shot over the pastures beyond, as if he was going upon turf. The hounds all this time had been running, or rather racing, nearly mute.
The missis is below! exclaimed Springwheat, from the window; and just at the moment the pad-groom emerged from the house, and ran to his lordship's horse's head.
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