"Governor been at you about him?"
"He has never forgiven me. Perhaps he will now. But I know mother was glad, so I don't much care."
"How is the Governor?" asked Humphrey, rather gloomily. "Fairly amiable?"
"Fairly. I think he misses Nancy; but of course he is glad she married John. He is so well off."
Humphrey took no notice of this shaft. He hardly spoke again until they reached the house, when he went straight into his father's room.
"Well, my boy," said the Squire. "What good wind blows you here? I thought you were moving down to Hampshire this week."
"The house isn't quite ready yet. Susan has gone to her people. I thought I'd run down. And—I've got something to talk to you about."
"Yes, well!" The Squire was a little suspicious. He didn't want to part with any money for the moment.
"What have you decided about Gotch? Clark is leaving us, and wants things settled. She doesn't want to find another place. She wants to get married."
"Well, then, let her get married," said the Squire, with some show of heat. "It's nothing to do with me. Let Gotch marry her, and find a place to take her to, if he can. I've no room for another married keeper here, as I've filled up the place that Mr. Gotch saw fit to refuse."