THE SQUIRE 197 



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 countrj'-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 t6 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 nothing to say to you, think they 

 cannot see too much of you. They must have you alongside of 

 them, and when at length dull time has dragged through the 

 imprisonment, and with well-feigned regrets you are about to 



