This brought in the women.

Lady Jocelyn proposed a female expedition for the morrow.
'I believe I used to be something of a shot, formerly,' she said.
'You peppered old Tom once, my lady,' remarked Andrew, and her ladyship laughed, and that foolish Andrew told the story, and the Countess, to revive her subject, had to say: 'May I be enrolled to shoot ?' though she detested and shrank from fire-arms.
'Here are two!' said the hearty presiding dame.

'Ladies, apply immediately to have your names put down.' The possibility of an expedition of ladies now struck Seymour vividly, and said he: 'I 'll be secretary'; and began applying to the ladies for permission to put down their names.

Many declined, with brevity, muttering, either aloud or to themselves, 'unwomanly'; varied by 'unladylike': some confessed cowardice; some a horror of the noise close to their ears; and there was the plea of nerves.

But the names of half-a-dozen ladies were collected, and then followed much laughter, and musical hubbub, and delicate banter.