" "These
words," said the Duke, "apply to the anti-patriot, the pro-Zulu, the
pro-Boer, the inciter to rebellion in Egypt, and to the stirrer-up of
strife in India. I do not see why rifle-shooting should not become a
popular national sport, equal in prestige to games like cricket and
football."
CHAPTER IX
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS AT HOME.--THE DUCHESS AS PRINCESS BOUNTIFUL.--THE
DUCHESS AT COURT
Christmas is usually spent by the Duke and Duchess at Welbeck, and one
of the events of the season is the Household Ball to celebrate the
Duke's birthday, which falls on December 28th. It is held in the vast
underground picture-gallery, with the subjects of the old painters
looking down from their canvases upon the gay dancers.
Choice exotics, stately palms and seasonable shrubs add to the variety
of the decorations. The band is almost hidden in a bower of foliage in
the centre of the great saloon, and there are 500 guests of all ranks of
society from peers and peeresses to the humblest domestic servant.
About ten o'olock the Duke and Duchess appear with their house party,
and dancing commences with a Circassion Circle.
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