What did Sir
William say?" Then during the first half of dinner a prolonged reference
was made to Mr. Scarborough's maladies, and to Sir William's opinion
concerning them. Sir William had declared that Mr. Scarborough's
constitution was the most wonderful thing that he had ever met in his
experience. In spite of the fact that Mr. Scarborough's body was one
mass of cuts and bruises and faulty places, and that nothing would keep
him going except the wearing of machinery which he was unwilling to
wear, yet the facilities for much personal enjoyment were left to him,
and Sir William declared that, if he would only do exactly as he were
told, he might live for the next five years. "But everybody knows that
he won't do anything that he is told," said Augustus, in a tone of voice
which by no means expressed extreme sorrow.
From his father he led the conversation to the partridges, and declared
his conviction that, with a little trouble and some expense, a very good
head of game might be got up at Tretton. "I suppose it wouldn't cost
much?" said Jones, who beyond ten shillings to a game-keeper never paid
sixpence for whatever shooting came in his way.
"I don't know what you call much," said Augustus, "but I think it may be
done for three or four hundred a year.
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