"Now, Sid, what shall we do?"
"Go and tell them to bring down tea to us here," said Sidney, sitting down by her father's side and taking up her work again.
He made a grimace, but obeyed. Admiral Urquhart looked after his retreating figure with twinkling eyes.
"If he were a few years older I should take myself off, my dear. As it is, I don't intend to move. He'll never make a good landlord, and his mother knows it. When he comes into the property he'll spend all his father has saved."
"Now, dad, you shall not abuse him. He is a dear boy, and will be more popular than any former de Cressiers. They are so alarming as a rule."
Austin returned and flung himself into a hammock under the trees.
"The mother is as keen as mustard on these dinners. They are to introduce Sir Walter Rame as possible member."
"I thought he refused to be canvassed," Sidney said.
"He is in doubtful mind. Our first dinner is for the cream of Thanning Dale, our second for the ordinary. Now, which is this new arrival? The mother will sort him with her eye in a twinkling."
"I don't think he is ordinary," said Sidney slowly.