314 HABITS OF LORD GEORGE BENTINCK. 



and after I had talked to him for one or two hours, 

 would order breakfast to be prepared for me before 

 I left. At that early hour it often took so much 

 time to provide this meal that I was scarcely able 

 to do justice to it, although I felt bound to eat as 

 much as I could, as his Lordship would invariably 

 inquire of me before we parted whether I had 

 enjoyed my breakfast. I often begged him to 

 allow me to -get what little I wanted at some 

 refreshment - room, but to this he would never 

 consent. 



When I arrived in London late in the evening, 

 Lord George was often at the House of Commons, 

 or at White's Club at dinner. Wherever he might 

 be, it was my duty to find him with the least 

 possible delay ; and if not at White's Club, I 

 sometimes remained there, hearing that he was 

 expected at eleven o'clock, as he had ordered 

 dinner then. He would keep me talking till long 

 after midnight ; and upon one occasion desired me 

 to meet him next week at the Winchester station, 

 upon the arrival of the first train from London, 

 about 11 A.M., which necessitated my leaving home 

 about 5 A.M. to post to Fareham (a distance of 

 twenty - two miles) to catch the train for Win- 

 chester. Thence we posted to Danebury paddocks, 

 to inspect the stud previous to the closing of the 

 stakes on that day (the 1st of January). After 

 minutely inspecting the stud, Lord George found 

 that it had not occupied as much time as he 



