Though he only read by
fits and starts when his enthusiasm was excited, he was thorough,
able, and acute, and his intelligence and sympathy were my father's
best compensation for the loss of London society.
The two riders were a great contrast. Mr. Winslow had the
thoroughly well-appointed, somewhat precise, and highly-polished air
of a barrister, and a thin, somewhat worn and colourless face, with
grizzled hair and white whiskers; and though he rode well, with full
command of his horse, he was old enough to have chosen Chancery for
her sterling qualities. Parson Frank, on the other hand, though a
thorough gentleman, was as ruddy and weather-browned as any farmer,
and--albeit his features were handsome and refined, and his figure
well poised and athletic--he lost something of dignity by easiness
of gesture and carelessness of dress, except on state occasions,
when he discarded his beloved rusty old coat and Oxford mixture
trousers, and came out magnificent enough for an archdeacon, if not
an archbishop; while his magnificent horse, Cossack, was an animal
that a sporting duke might have envied.
Nothing ever tired that couple, but my father had stipulated for
exchanges with Griffith. On these occasions it almost invariably
happened that there was a fine view for Ellen to see, so that she
was exalted to the box with Griffith to show it to her, and Chancery
was consigned to Clarence.
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