'Shall I open a bottle of port, or do you ever drink such a thing as
Hollands and water?' says Ponto, looking ruefully at me. This was a very
different style of thing to what I had been led to expect from him at
our smoking-room at the Club: where he swaggers about his horses and
his cellar: and slapping me on the shoulder used to say, 'Come down
to Mangelwurzelshire, Snob my boy, and I'll give you as good a day's
shooting and as good a glass of claret as any in the county.'--'Well,'
I said, 'I like Hollands much better than port, and gin even better than
Hollands.' This was lucky. It WAS gin; and Stripes brought in hot water
on a splendid plated tray.
The jingling of a harp and piano soon announced that Mrs. Ponto's ung PU
DE MUSICK had commenced, and the smell of the stable again entering
the dining-room, in the person of Stripes, summoned us to CAFFY and the
little concert. She beckoned me with a winning smile to the sofa, on
which she made room for me, and where we could command a fine view
of the backs of the young ladies who were performing the musical
entertainment. Very broad backs they were too, strictly according to
the present mode, for crinoline or its substitutes is not an expensive
luxury, and young people in the country can afford to be in the fashion
at very trifling charges. Miss Emily Ponto at the piano, and her sister
Maria at that somewhat exploded instrument, the harp, were in light blue
dresses that looked all flounce, and spread out like Mr.
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