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 244 THE CECILS

years, declared by Rarey, the American horse- tamer, to be the best lady whip in England. 1

In 1847 Lord Salisbury married Lady Mary Catherine, second daughter of Earl de la Warr, he being then fifty-six and she twenty-three. Disraeli, who was present at a Ball at Hatfield, " a splendid place in the highest state of renovation," four years later, speaks of Lady Salisbury as "an admirable hostess and a very pleasing woman ; great simplicity, quite a Sack- viile, with four most beautiful young children a. boy just like a young Cantelupe." 2

Another visitor, Richard Redgrave, gives a pleasant picture of these children, and of family life at Hatfield a few years later. Among the guests was Lord Chelmsford, who had just been made Lord Chancellor.

" There is a grand baronial style of living kept up at Hatfield. Prayers are said in the chapel every morning by the Chaplain. Dinner takes place in the old Eliza- bethan hall. The band of the militia, of which the Marquis is Colonel, plays during the meal in an outer apartment. Each lady, as she passes into the dining hall, is presented with a handsome bouquet, in a neat little wicker holder. At breakfast, one morning, the youngest child, three years old, came in to see the Marchioness. She said to the baby, ' This is the Lord Chancellor ; won't you speak to him ? won't you say "How do you do, Lord Chancellor " ? ' ' No,' answered the child, ' I shall call him " Chance." ' Very good/ said Lord

1 Lady Blanche Balfour : A Reminiscence. Lady Mildred married Alexander Beresford-Hope, M.P. for Cambridge University.

2 Disraeli's Correspondence, December loth, 1851.

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