Coaches i?i the Park. 123 



At the conclusion of the luncheon Colonel Armytage 

 proposed the health of the Queen ; and the Prince of 

 Wales, in a few words, gave the only other toast the 

 rules of the club permitted, namely, " The Road/' 

 The company then rose — to be succeeded by a second 

 detachment of visitors, the number having exceeded 

 by nearly double that which had been expected to 

 attend the gathering of the Coaching Club ; thus 

 putting to the test the resources of the establishment, 

 which, under the trying circumstances, yet left nothing 

 to be desired. 



Heavy storms swept over these beautiful gardens, 

 and were the only drawbacks to the otherwise delight- 

 ful gathering. However, if the weather was unplea- 

 santly wet, the wine was proportionately dry, and so 

 matters arranged themselves on the whole in a 

 satisfactory way. No doubt there were some who 

 had cause for disappointment ; for there must have 

 been several who would have whispered to the objects 

 of their admiration, ^^ Oh ! come, and while the rosy- 

 footed May steals blushing on " together let us wander, 

 for ^^ the garden glows and fills the liberal air with 

 lavish fragrance. '' 



But how could one possibly make such a suggestion 

 under these circumstances ? I never heard of any one 

 with wet feet being sentimental ; usually I have found 

 even the fairest enslaver a trifle touchy, not to say 

 difficult to please, when so situated; but then that 

 is only my own experience — others may have been 

 more fortunate. However, I think that the " verdant 

 lawns,'' which we so often read of in romance, should 

 above all things be dry. Personally this matter did 

 not afi'ect me, as I sought the shelter of the billiard- 



