144 MY FIRST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 



to be repeated twice during the clay, Dick's weight, 

 some sixteen stone, preventing him from giving me 

 any assistance. I was overhead in love, besides, 

 and four hours at least had to be devoted to the 

 object of my affections. We kept open house ; 

 game and fish had to be provided for the larder, 

 and the girls were always wanting something or 

 other from the neighbouring town, which they 

 declared only I could get; so between all, my time 

 was fully occupied, and seemed to fly. 



If Mr Mill's bill for giving ladies the franchise 

 had been in force then, I think Dick and myself 

 would have had a fair chance of representing the 

 county. So soon as our intention to give a race 

 ball w T as known, we became the most popular men 

 in it. Offers of supplies and assistance came 

 pouring in from all quarters. Plate, china, and 

 glass arrived so fast, and in such quantities, the 

 lodge could not contain them, and we were obliged 

 to pitch the tent. As the time drew near, the 

 preparation and bustle increased tenfold. Our life 

 was one continual picnic. From early morning 

 until late at night, the house was crowded with 

 girls laughing, flirting, trying on ball-dresses, and 

 assisting in the decorating of the tent. We never 

 thought of sitting down to dinner, but took it 

 where, when, and how we could. Ay dc mi ! I 



