"How is Colonel Askerton?" asked Clara.
"He's in-doors. Will you come and see him? He's reading a French novel, as usual. It's the only thing he ever does in summer. Do you ever read French novels, Mr. Belton?"
"I read very little at all, and when I do I read English."
"Ah, you're a man who has a pursuit in life, no doubt."
"I should rather think so,—that is, if you mean, by a pursuit, earning my bread. A man has not much time for French novels with a thousand acres of land on his hands; even if he knew how to read French, which I don't."
"But you're not always at work on your farm?"
"It's pretty constant, Mrs. Askerton. Then I shoot, and hunt."
"You're a sportsman?"
"All men living in the country are,—more or less."
"Colonel Askerton shoots a great deal. He has the shooting of Belton, you know. He'll be delighted, I'm sure, to see you if you are here some time in September. But you, coming from Norfolk, would not care for partridge-shooting in Somersetshire."