THE SQUIRE 207 



But we must get on with our visit, or we shall 

 make our sketch as long as the infliction itself. If 

 a dinner passes heavily, what a prospect there is 

 for the evening ! What a spirit-depressing thing it 

 is to feel that no gentle knock or quiet area ring, 

 following the slow rumble of wheels, will bring 

 liberation through the footman's hands, but that we 

 are regularly booked, and in for the night — not only 

 the night, but two following ones, with the addition 

 of long unoccupied days. One day, however, shall 

 serve for all. Let us suppose the dawdling breakfast 

 at last finished, that it has been protracted even until 

 eleven o'clock, then comes the appalling conviction 

 of thin boots, and total indolence. The ladies retire 

 to the drawing-room, and the wretched male victims 

 of society, whom spurious hospitality has brought 

 together, either follow them or make for the library. 

 This is the time that country-house indolence is most 

 apparent and most appalling. If a man has any, the 

 smallest occupation or resource when at home, the 

 first hour or so after breakfast is sure to bring it out ; 

 but in a strange house, away from his horses, his 

 garden, his dogs, his gun, his fishing-rod, his books, 

 his everything that makes home home, what is a man 

 to do ? There cannot perhaps be a greater nuisance 

 for both sexes than a lot of men hanging about a 

 drawing-room after breakfast. It must be as great a 

 bore to the ladies as it is to the men — yet how often 

 we see it — men lounging and idling and twaddling, 

 until luncheon prepares them for the excursion to 

 Prospect Hill or the ruined abbey by the river, the 

 usual inflictions on unhappy victims. Lord bless us ! 

 we would rather break stones than be condemned to 

 such ponderous idleness. 



There is no " tip-and-go-ish-ness " in the country — 

 none of that light effervescence that distinguishes the 

 active-minded man in brief contact with a sparkling 

 circle. People in the country, though they have 



