THE MASTERS OF BADMINTON 



though it cleared up before throwing-ofif time, there 

 was by no means a numerous one. But, really, 

 this is a sight worth any one's while to witness. 

 Breakfast, for at least fifty, is served in the great 

 hall, with a full attendance of servants, all in their 

 evening costume, and a most agreeable mixture of 

 le ddjeuner a la fourchette et a I' A?iglais is presented 

 to the choice of the company, which is confined to 

 the inmates of the house and the members of the 

 Badmington Hunt." 



In the course of a run an accident befell Mr. 

 William Codrington, a son-in-law of the Duke, and 

 Nimrod thus characteristically ends his description 

 of the event: — " Lady Georgiana, his wife, was on 

 her horse, when the words, ' That horse has broken 

 William Codrington's leg,' loudly assailed her ear. 

 And how did she deport herself 1 Did she yield to 

 the weakness (amiable as it may be) of her sex, 

 and add to the sufferings of her husband by either 

 exclamations or cries ? She did neither ; but in- 

 clining her head towards that of her horse, and 

 resting it for a few seconds on her hand, she 

 silently let fall some tears, and then instantly re- 

 covered her self-possession. As I left Badmington 

 on the Monday following, and as the attention of 

 her ladyship was entirely devoted to her suffering 

 husband — for, owing to a contusion being added to 

 the fracture, as well as from its situation, he did 

 suffer very much — I had no opportunity of ex- 

 pressing in person my admiration of such conduct, 



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