“He will not offer any opposition to that, I am well assured,” returned Chicknell, with a winning smile, who, throughout the interview, did his best to conciliate the engineer.
“You had better go, dear,” said the latter.
Aveline went to his side, and placing one arm round his neck as he was seated in his chair, she then, addressing the lawyer, said—
“I hope you will tell the earl, my grandfather, what a good, indulgent, kind husband I have got, for it is but right and proper he should hear this from other lips beside mine own.”
“I will tell him so, rest assured of that. Shall feel a pleasure in making this known to him,” said the lawyer.
“I cannot remain longer. My time is up, sir,” observed Gatliffe.
“Then I will not detain you,” said the lawyer. “I shall, I dare say, have occasion to see you shortly upon a little matter of business, and so farewell till we meet again.”
Soon after Gatliffe’s departure his wife and little boy started off in company with the solicitor, and reached Broxbridge Hall early in the afternoon.