Presently Shott Woods were reached; the parcels and hampers were
unpacked, the fire was lit, the tea prepared, and the pastor asked a
blessing. Everybody sat on the grass, save the reverend gentleman
and his wife, who had chairs which had been brought on purpose. It
would not have been considered proper that Mr. or Mrs. Broad should
sit upon the grass, and indeed physically it would have been
inconvenient to Mr. Broad to do so. He ate his ham in considerable
quantities, adding thereto much plumcake, and excusing himself on the
ground that the ride had given him an appetite. The meal being over,
grace was said, and the victuals that were left were repacked. About
an hour remained before the return journey began. This was usually
passed in sauntering about or in walking to the springs, a mile away,
down one of the grass drives. Mrs. Broad never for a moment lost
sight of Thomas, and pressed him as much as possible into her
service; but when Mrs. Allen announced that the young people had all
determined to go to the springs, Mrs. Broad could not hold out.
Accordingly off they started, under strict orders to be back by
eight. They mixed themselves up pretty indiscriminately as they left
their seniors; but after a while certain affinities displayed
themselves, George being found with Priscilla, for example, and
Thomas with Fanny.
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