Publisher's Synopsis
Mr. John Mellish reserved to himself one room upon the ground-floor of his house: a cheerful, airyapartment, with French windows opening upon the lawn; windows that were sheltered from the sunby a verandah overhung with jessamine and roses. It was altogether a pleasant room for the summerseason, the floor being covered with an India matting instead of a carpet, and many of the chairsbeing made of light basket-work. Over the chimney-piece hung a portrait of John's father, andopposite to this work of art there was the likeness of the deceased gentleman's favourite hunter, surmounted by a pair of brightly polished spurs, the glistening rowels of which had often pierced thesides of that faithful steed. In this chamber Mr. Mellish kept his whips, canes, foils, single-sticks, boxing-gloves, spurs, guns, pistols, powder and shot flasks, fishing-tackle, boots, and tops; and manyhappy mornings were spent by the master of Mellish Park in the pleasing occupation of polishing, repairing, inspecting, and otherwise setting in order, these possessions. He had as many pairs ofhunting-boots as would have supplied half Leicestershire-with tops to match. He had whipsenough for all the Melton Hunt. Surrounded by these treasures, as it were in a temple sacred to thedeities of the race-course and the hunting-field, Mr. John Mellish used to hold solemn audienceswith his trainer and his head-groom upon the business of the stable.It was Aurora's custom to peep into this chamber perpetually, very much to the delight anddistraction of her adoring husband, who found the black eyes of his divinity a terrible hindrance tobusiness; except, indeed, when he could induce Mrs. Mellish to join in the discussion upon hand, and lend the assistance of her powerful intellect to the little conclave. I believe that John thought shecould have handicapped the horses for the Chester Cup as well as Mr. Topham himself. She wassuch a brilliant creature, that every little smattering of knowledge she possessed appeared to suchgood account as to make her seem an adept in any subject of which she spoke; and the simpleYorkshireman believed in her as the wisest as well as the noblest and fairest of wo