'
'What does that matter? When a thing has to be said it had better
be said at once.'
Phineas Finn was staying at Harrington with his intimate friends
the Chilterns, as were a certain Mr and Mrs Maule, both of whom
were addicted to hunting,--the lady whose maiden name was Palliser,
being a cousin of Lord Silverbridge. On that day also a certain Mr
and Mrs Spooner dined at Harrington. Mr and Mrs Spooner were both
very much given to hunting, as seemed to be necessarily the case
with everybody admitted to the house. Mr Spooner was a gentleman
who might be on the wrong side of fifty, with a red nose, very
vigorous, and submissive in regard to all things but port-wine.
His wife was perhaps something more than half his age, a stout,
hard-riding, handsome woman. She had been the penniless daughter
of a retired officer,--but yet had managed to ride on whatever
animal anyone would lend her. Then Mr Spooner, who had for many
years been part and parcel of the Brake hunt, and who was much in
want of a wife, had, luckily for her, cast his eyes upon Miss
Leatherside.
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