TheCountessofRocksbiersatattheheadofthetablealonewithJacob.Feduponchampagneandspicesforatleasttwocenturies(four,ifyoucountthefemaleline),theCountessLucylookedwellfed.Adiscriminatingnoseshehadforscents,prolonged,asifinquestofthemherunderlipprotrudedanarrowredshelfhereyesweresmall,withsandytuftsforeyebrows,andherjowlwasheavy.Behindher(thewindowlookedonGrosvenorSquare)stoodMollPrattonthepavement,offeringvioletsforsaleandMrs.HildaThomas,liftingherskirts,preparingtocrosstheroad.OnewasfromWalworththeotherfromPutney.Bothworeblackstockings,butMrs.Thomaswascoiledinfurs.ThecomparisonwasmuchinLadyRocksbier'sfavour.Mollhadmorehumour,butwasviolentstupidtoo.HildaThomaswasmealy-mouthed,allhersilverframesaslantegg-cupsinthedrawing-roomandthewindowsshrouded.LadyRocksbier,whateverthedeficienciesofherprofile,hadbeenagreatridertohounds.Sheusedherknifewithauthority,toreherchickenbones,askingJacob'spardon,withherownhands.
"Whoisthatdrivingby?"sheaskedBoxall,thebutler.
"LadyFirtlemere'scarriage,mylady,"whichremindedhertosendacardtoaskafterhislordship'shealth.Arudeoldlady,Jacobthought.Thewinewasexcellent.Shecalledherself"anoldwoman"—"sokindtolunchwithanoldwoman"—whichflatteredhim.ShetalkedofJosephChamberlain,whomshehadknown.ShesaidthatJacobmustcomeandmeet—oneofourcelebrities.AndtheLadyAlicecameinwiththreedogsonaleash,andJackie,whorantokisshisgrandmother,whileBoxallbroughtinatelegram,andJacobwasgivenagoodcigar.
Afewmomentsbeforeahorsejumpsitslows,sidles,gathersitselftogether,goesuplikeamonsterwave,andpitchesdownonthefurtherside.Hedgesandskyswoopinasemicircle.Thenasifyourownbodyranintothehorse'sbodyanditwasyourownforelegsgrownwithhisthatsprang,rushingthroughtheairyougo,thegroundresilient,bodiesamassofmuscles,yetyouhavecommandtoo,uprightstillness,eyesaccuratelyjudging.Thenthecurvescease,changingtodownrighthammerstrokes,whichjarandyoudrawupwithajoltsittingbackalittle,sparkling,tingling,glazedwithiceoverpoundingarteries,gasping:"Ah!ho!Hah!"thesteamgoingupfromthehorsesastheyjostletogetheratthecross-roads,wherethesignpostis,andthewomanintheapronstandsandstaresatthedoorway.Themanraiseshimselffromthecabbagestostaretoo.
SoJacobgallopedoverthefieldsofEssex,floppedinthemud,lostthehunt,androdebyhimselfeatingsandwiches,lookingoverthehedges,noticingthecoloursasifnewscraped,cursinghisluck.
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