"
"Break your arm, my dear!"
"Or my leg would be better. I wish I could have the courage to
chuck myself off going over some gate. If I could be laid up here
now with a broken limb I really think I could do it."
CHAPTER XXII
Jemima
As the meet on the next morning was in the park the party at
Rufford Hall was able to enjoy the luxury of an easy morning
together with the pleasures of the field. There was no getting up
at eight o'clock, no hurry and scurry to do twenty miles and yet be
in time, no necessity for the tardy dressers to swallow their
breakfasts while their more energetic companions were raving at
them for compromising the chances of the day by their delay. There
was a public breakfast down-stairs, at which all the hunting
farmers of the country were to be seen, and some who, only
pretended to be hunting farmers on such occasions. But up-stairs
there was a private breakfast for the ladies and such of the
gentlemen as preferred tea to champagne and cherry brandy. Lord
Rufford was in and out of both rooms, making himself generally
agreeable. In the public room there was a great deal said about
Goarly, to all of which the Senator listened with eager ears,--for
the Senator preferred the public breakfast as offering another
institution to his notice. "He'll swing on a gallows afore he's
dead," said one energetic farmer who was sitting next to Mr.
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