"Friends! You and that—! Oh, well, let's have another gallop."
The gallop brought us in full view of Fillingford Manor; it lay over against us in the valley, broad expanses of meadow and of lawn leading up to a formal garden, beyond which rose the long low red-brick façade half covered with ivy, and a multitude of twisting chimneys.
"Jolly old place, isn't it?" cried Lacey. "I say, wouldn't you like to see over it? I don't expect Aunt Sarah showed you much!"
"I should like to see over it very much, if your father would ask me."
"Oh, he will—he'll be delighted. I say, come this week—while we're by ourselves?"
"Yes, if he invites me."
"He'll invite you. He likes you very much—only he's not exactly expansive, you know, the governor!"
"Never mind, you are. Now Mr. Austin and I must go back to breakfast and to work."
"By Jove, I must be getting back, too, or I shall keep the governor waiting, and he doesn't like that."
"If you do, tell him it's my fault."