He had been sitting all day upon the Bench.

He had to attend the Flower Show in Chichester during the next week.

Really the life of a country notable was a dog's life.
"You are going to make a speech at Chichester, Sir Christopher ?" Jupp inquired.
"Oh no, my boy," replied Sir Chichester.

"Make a speech indeed! And in this weather! Nothing would induce me.

Me for the back benches, as our cousins across the Atlantic would say." He spoke pompously, yet with a certain gratification as though Harold Jupp had asked him to dignify the occasion with a speech.
"Have the evening papers not arrived yet ?" he asked, looking with suspicious eyes on Dennis Brown.
"No, I am not sitting on them this time," said Dennis.
"And Colonel Luttrell ?" After the evening papers, Sir Chichester thought politely of his guests.
Millie Splay replied with hesitation.