46 



NOTES OF THE HUNT. 



lUI . 



place.) Their hats and wraps wpre deposited by will- 

 ing hands in the Ante Room, ( sting of the pile of 

 empty cots in the north-ea" .ler.) Willie, when 

 they had rested, most gal' escorted all three in 

 succession to the Dressing x«.oom, (a mirror and shelf 

 on the west side.) Then they were led by a deputation 

 to the fauteuils and ottomans in the Parlor, (two 

 blanket-covered bunks at the south end,) where enter- 

 taining conversation n several languages was provided 

 them until dinner should be served in the Refreshment 

 Room, (the remaining space in the centre occupied by 

 the table.) ,'■ ,; :>. 



Miss Laidlaw was the bearer of a handsome bouquet 

 of geraniums, pansies, ferns and wild flowers, thought- 

 fully sent to the Club by Miss Marsh, who was unable 

 to come ; and this, placed in one of Crosse and Black- 

 well's aesthetic jelly-vases, presently ornamented the 

 dining table. Our meal was a merry one. The cellars 

 of the club were freely drawn upon for the unusual 

 occasion and these first lady visitors to our modern 

 quarters were offered everything, from the claret and 

 'polly which is the favorite beverage of the vice presi- 

 dent, to the champagne cider, carefully frappe from 

 exposure on the verandah, by ever-present and devoted 

 Willie. Neglecting our usual dessert of hard tack and 

 cheese, as something ill worthy of such an occasion, 

 Robert the Magnificent produced as a bonne louche 

 some nectar chartreuse, whose origin Louis explained 

 with his accustomed grace. 



Then the ladies sang, and all joined in the chorus, 

 Hedley gave a reading and Raynor related his blood- 

 curdling narrative of "Mrs. Smith" and the trans- 

 Atlantic diablerie of Vanderbilt, until, promptly at four 



