CHAPTER XXVI
HUNDERSLUST
So to my Lord Marquis of Newcastle's dinner we went, and found
ourselves regaled with more of good cheer than poor cavaliers could
usually offer. There was not only a good sirloin of beer, but a
goose, and many choice wild-fowl from the fens of the country. There
was plum porridge too, which I had not seen since I left England at
my marriage. Every one was so much charmed at the sight that I
thought I ought to be so too, but I confess that it was too much for
me, and that I had to own that it is true that the English are gross
feeders. The Duke of York was there, looking brighter and more manly
than I had yet seen him, enlivened perhaps by my Lady Newcastle, who
talked to him, without ceasing, on all sorts of subjects. She would
not permit the gentlemen to sit after dinner, because she would have
us all out to enjoy her sport on the ice-hills, which were slopes
made with boards, first covered with snow, and then with water poured
over them till they were perfectly smooth and like glass. I cannot
say that I liked the notion of rushing down them, but it seemed to
fill Annora with ecstasy, and my lady provided her with a sleigh and
a cavalier, before herself instructing the Duke of York in the
guidance of her own sledge upon another ice-hill.
My Lord Marquis did me the honour to walk with me and converse on my
brother. There was a paved terrace beneath a high wall which was
swept clear of snow and strewn with sand and ashes, so that those who
had no turn for the ice-hills could promenade there and gaze upon the
sport.
Pages:
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349