With this the guests rose. The tea-table, at all events, had been a decided success. The groups who had engaged in conversation at table, many of them, continued to walk and talk together with much enthusiasm. Mr. Heritage told the company that he hoped they would contrive to amuse one another. They would find in different parts of the grounds, bowls, a target, and means of archery for those who liked such exercises, and, he hoped, materials for ample pleasure in one another. The company spread, grouped, wandered by degrees in full talk, and disappeared amongst the winding walks. The grounds were extensive, delightfully varied with shrubbery, clumps of noble trees, lawns opening, here and there, amongst them, flower-beds; and in one place a considerable expanse of water, on which were swans and different kinds of wild ducks; and seats were placed around for leisurely viewing them.
Parties of the young men were soon found, engaged with bows and arrows; others having a game of bowls; and others, and amongst them Thorsby and Dr. Leroy, trying their skill in jumping. Tom Boddily had pointed out a soft piece of ground where they could jump distances without hurting their legs and feet.
“Now,” said Thorsby, “I hear that you, Boddily, are a first-rate jumper; let us see what you can do.”
“Well,” said Tom, “it does not become me to jump with you, gentlemen. I can, it is true, cut out most of the young villagers at leaping; but it would be presuming to enter into your sports, gentlemen.”
“Nonsense,” said Thorsby, “I want to see what you can do. I don’t want to show my leaping, and have you laughing in your sleeve at my inferiority.”
“Well,” said Tom, “if master sees us, you will make my excuses.”
“Of course,” said both Thorsby and Dr. Leroy.
Tom having stripped off his coat, led the way. The young men were amazed at the manner in which he seemed to throw himself through the air, as if he had been an elastic ball.
“We shall never do that,” said Thorsby, taking a determined run, and turning very red in the face, but falling a few inches short of Tom’s mark. Dr. Leroy, very quietly, and without much apparent exertion, outwent Tom considerably; but the next time Tom flew a foot beyond this. Thorsby put forth all his strength, but only to find that both he and Dr. Leroy were hopelessly distanced by this wiry little fellow. They next tried the cat-gallows, or high leaping. The result was the same. “There is no chance with you, Tom,” said Thorsby; “you must have kangaroo-leather shoes on.”
“No,” said Tom; “I’ll jump in my bare feet if you like.”