There was lawn-tennis, and fishing-rods,--which nobody
used,--and better still, long shady secluded walks in which
gentlemen might stroll,--and ladies too, if they were kind enough.
The whole thing had been arranged by Mrs Montacute Jones. As the
day was fine, as many of the old people had abstained from coming,
as there were plenty of young men of the best sort, and as nothing
had been spared in reference to external comforts, the party
promised to be a success. Every most lovely girl in London of
course was there,--except Lady Mabel Grex. Lady Mabel was in the
habit of going everywhere, but on this occasion, she had refused
Mrs Boncassen's invitation. 'I don't want to see her triumphs,'
she had said to Miss Cass.
Everybody went down by railway of course, and innumerable flies
and carriages had been provided to take them to the scene of
action. Some immediately got into boats and rowed themselves up
from the bridge,--which, as the thermometer was standing at eighty
in the shade, was an inconsiderate proceeding. 'I don't think I am
quite up to that,' said Dolly Longstaff, when it was proposed to
him to take an oar.
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