The Life of a Great Sportsman 



scene the impressive one it was. The aspect of Edmondthorpe 

 Hall, with its closely drawn blinds, emblematic of woe, pre- 

 sented a terrible contrast to the last time I was there in the 

 middle of the hunting season, when everything was cheerful 

 and full of life, and my brother in the full enjoyment of health 

 and strength. 



Jack, Maunsell's only son, welcomed my nephew and myself 

 to the house. 



The house-party included Lady Yarborough's daughter, 

 Lady Gertrude Astley Corbet, and her husband, son of the 

 late Sir John Astley, and a great friend of my brother's. 

 When children we all knew the dear old " Mate " and loved 

 him for his geniality and kindness ; he it was who presided 

 over the banquet given to Maunsell at Brigg, after winning 

 the Liverpool on Disturbance, in 1873. Lady Yarborough's 

 youngest son by her first marriage, the Hon. Dudley Pelham, 

 and his wife ; Mr. George Heneage, eldest son and heir of 

 Lord Heneage of Hainton, myself and my nephew Dick 

 completed the party. 



We all met at dinner, and each tried in our several ways, 

 with more or less success, to keep up our spirits for each 

 other's sake. Our sad hostess kept to her own sitting-room, 

 an apartment sacred to her, for although supposed to be her 

 boudoir, it was also her husband's writing-room, and held his 

 table and his papers, so that even in his and her private work 

 they were never separated. After dinner was finished, which, 

 despite our united efforts, proved but a dismal affair, Jack told 

 me his mother wished to see me in her room. 



It is said, " God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," and 

 in this case, the full tide of lonely misery and desolation, the 

 waves of which had broken over her, was borne with a 

 wonderful courage. She had determined also that, no matter 



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