ng service, as indeed
the late hours overnight kept most of us in our rooms till eleven or
twelve o'clock, when we dawdled down to a breakfast that seemed to
lengthen itself out till luncheon-time. To be sure, when the latter
meal had been discussed, and we had marked our reverence for the day
by a conversation in which we expressed our disapproval of the
personal appearance, faults and foibles, and general character of our
friends, some of us would declare an intention of attending afternoon
church; on which subject much discussion would arise, and the
probability of the weather holding up would be volubly commented
on--the church being situated about a quarter of a mile from the
house, and the way to it through the Park being so completely
sheltered by evergreens that to have got wet, save in a downright
_pour_ of rain, was next to impossible. At last we would get under
way--the ladies mincing along with their magnificently covered
prayer-books, affecting an air of unwilling decorum; the dandies
carrying cloaks, shawls, and umbrellas for their respective goddesses,
and following them, so to speak, under protest, as if there was
something to be ashamed of in the whole proceeding. Lady Scapegrace
always went early, and quite by herself; she sat apart, too, from her
guests and relatives. Not so Sir Guy. It was his great delight to
create as much noise and confusion as possible, that on his entrance
the respectable yeomen and humble parishioners might be dazzled with
his glory, and whisper one to another, "That be Sir Guy," as he
marched to the front of his family pew in a blaze of wondrous apparel.
It was natural that he should create a sensation with his red face and
gaudy-coloured clothes, and huge, dyed whiskers, and the eternal
flower in his mouth, which was always on duty save when relieved by a
cigar or a toothpick. Pew it could scarcely with propriety be called,
inasmuch as it was more like a box at the opera than a seat in a place
of worship. We entered by a staircase outside the church, with a
private door of our own; passing through which we found ourselves in a
very comfortable chamber, with a good many chairs and sofas, a
handsome bookcase, and a blazing fire. This, again, led to a smaller
apartment, into which Sir Guy would swagger with much unnecessary
noise and bustle. Throwing up a large window, he leaned over as it
were from a hustings, and, behold! we were at church.

When the sermon was concluded Sir