Just at this point the squire and his son entered the room together and instantly the social temperature of the place rose.
“I met Leyland running away from you women,” said the squire. “Whatever hev you been doing to him?”
“He wanted to see the papers, father,” said Katherine.
“It was a bit of bad behavior,” said Madam Temple.
“Oh, dear, no,” Jane replied. “Fred is incapable of anything so vulgar. Is he not, father?”
“To be sure he is. No doubt it was a bit of fine feeling for the women present that sent him off. He knew you would want to discuss the affair of last night and also the people mixed up in it and he felt he would be in everybody’s way, and so he was good-natured enough to leave you to the pleasure of describing one another. It was varry agreeable and polite for Fred to do so. I hedn’t sense enough to do the same.”
“Nay, nay, Antony, that isn’t the way to put it. Dick, my dear lad, say a word for me.”
“I could not say a word worthy of you, mother, and now I came to bid you good-by. I am off as quick as possible for Annis. Father had a letter from Mr. Foster this morning. It is best that either father or I go there for a few days and, as father cannot leave London at this crisis, I am going in his place.”
“What is the matter now, Dick?”
“Some trouble with the weavers, I believe.”