England -- Fiction; Fox hunting -- Fiction; Humorous stories; Hunting stories
Although we have hitherto depicted Lord Scamperdale either in his great
uncouth hunting-clothes or in the flare-up red and yellow Stunner tartan,
it must not be supposed that he had not fine clothes when he chose to wear
them, only he wanted to save them, as he said, to be married in. That he
had fine ones, indeed, was evident from the rig-out he lent Jack when that
worthy went to Jawleyford Court, and, in addition to those which were of
the evening order, he had an uncommonly smart Stultz frock-coat, with a
velvet collar, facings, and cuffs, and a silk lining. Though so rough and
ready among the men, he was quite the dandy among the ladies, and was as
anxious about his appearance as a girl of sixteen. He got himself clipped
and trimmed, and shaved with the greatest care, curving his whiskers high
on to the cheekbones, leaving a great breadth of bare fallow below.
Baggs the butler was despatched betimes to Jawleyford Court with the
dog-cart freighted with clothes, driven by a groom to attend to the horses,
while his lordship mounted his galloping grey hack towards noon, and dashed
through the country like a comet. The people, who were only accustomed to
see him in his short, country-cut hunting-coats, baggy breeches, and
shapeless boots, could hardly recognize the frock-coated, fancy-vested,
military-trousered swell, as Lord Scamperdale. Even Titus Grabbington, the
superintendent of police, declared that he wouldn't have known him but for
his hat and specs. The latter, we need hardly say, were the silver
ones--the pair that he would not let Jack have when he went to Jawleyford
Court. So his lordship went capering and careering along, avoiding, of
course, all the turnpike-gates, of which he had a mortal aversion.
Jawleyford Court was in full dress to receive him--everything was full fig.
Spigot appeared in buckled shorts and black silk stockings; while vases of
evergreens and winter flowers mounted sentry on passage tables and
landing-places. Everything bespoke the elegant presence of the fair.
To the credit of Dame Fortune let us record that everything went smoothly
and well. Even the kitchen fire behaved as it ought. Neither did Lord
Scamperdale arrive before he was wanted, a very common custom with people
unused to public visiting. He cast up just when he was wanted. His ring of
the door-bell acted like the little tinkling bell at a theatre, sending all
parties to their places, for the curtain to rise.
Spigot and his two footmen answered the summons, while his lordship's groom
rushed out of a side-door, with his mouth full of cold meat, to take his
hack.
Having given his flat hat to Spigot, his whip-stick to one footman, and his
gloves to the other, he proceeded to the family tableau in the
drawing-room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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