Michael's curiosity was fairly aroused. "What, going all the way to Lunnon, and just for one night, and the wedding given up, too," he muttered. "Might I be bold enough to ask, Master Harry, what is hurrying ye hither and thither like this?"
"Simply an invitation to dinner," replied Harry, smiling at the looks of astonishment exchanged between Garth and his wife.
"Why, sir, ye can ha' dinners and to spare here—every house open to ye within ten miles round!" exclaimed Michael. "Sure and sartain, if I was you, I'd not go a-travellin' three hundred miles for one dinner!"
"Perhaps if you had received such an invitation as I have," replied the young naval officer, "you would hold a different opinion."
And, leaning back in his chair, Harry drew from his breast-pocket a large envelope with a red seal bearing the royal arms, which enclosed a card which he took out, and handed across the deal table to Martha Garth.
The old lady began fumbling for her spectacles, but her husband, whose sight was better, was at her side stooping to look over the card, before Martha had fixed her glasses on her nose.
"Her Majesty's commands! Well—if ever!" exclaimed the labourer.
"Dearie heart! To dine with the Queen! What an honour!" cried Martha, involuntarily half-rising from her seat.
"I don't wonder ye couldn't put aside such an invitation as that, sir," said Michael, "let what might come in the way!"
"My Sovereign's invitation is a command," replied the loyal young officer. "At whatever inconvenience or cost, loss of time or of pleasure, I am bound to obey it."