He was a stout, tall, portly old gentleman, sixty years of age, but looking somewhat older, whom it was a difficulty to place on horseback, but who, when there, looked remarkably well.

He rarely rose to a trot during his two hours of exercise, which to the two attache's who were told off for the duty of accompanying him was the hardest part of their allotted work.

But other gentlemen would lay themselves out to meet Sir Magnus and to ride with him, and in this way he achieved that character for popularity which had been a better aid to him in life than all the diplomatic skill which he possessed.
"What do you think ?" said he, walking off with Mrs.Mountjoy's letter into his wife's room.
"I don't think anything, my dear." "You never do." Lady Mountjoy, who had not yet undergone her painting, looked cross and ill-natured.

"At any rate, Sarah and her daughter are proposing to come here." "Good gracious! At once ?" "Yes, at once.

Of course, I've asked them over and over again, and something was said about this autumn, when we had come back from Pimperingen." "Why did you not tell me ?" "Bother! I did tell you.