Bravo, Bindlecombe! But Lady Sarah looked astonishingly sour. There was something almost feudal in the relationship which the Mayor's words suggested. Jenny as Overlord of Catsford would not be to Lady Sarah's liking.
I got rid of them; I beg pardon—they civilly dismissed me. Only young Lacey had for me a word of more than formality. He did me the honor to ask my opinion—as from one gentleman to another.
"I say, do you think Octon had a right to say that?"
"The retort was justifiable—strictly."
"He need hardly——"
"No, he needn't."
"Well, good-by, Mr. Austin. I say—I'd like to come and see you. Are you ever at home in the evenings?"
"Always just now. I should be delighted to see you."
"Evenings at the Manor aren't very lively," he remarked ingenuously. "And I've left school for good, you know."
The last words seemed to refer—distantly—to Leonard Octon. Without returning to that disturbing subject I repeated my invitation and then, comparatively free from my responsibilities, repaired alone to the terrace.