Then she explained the circumstance of the elephant’s attack.
‘Humph!’ exclaimed Raphael Craig.
Richard affected to be occupied solely with the two motor-cars. He judged it best to seem interested in nothing else. He blew out the oil-lamps of the old car, and switched off the electric lights of the new one. Teresa turned instantly to the latter, and began to turn the light off and on. Her father, too, joined in the examination of the car, and both father and daughter appeared to be wholly wrapped up in this new toy. Richard had to explain all the parts. He soon perceived that he had chanced on one of those households where time is of no account. Teresa and Raphael Craig saw nothing extraordinary in thus dawdling over a motor-car at one o’clock in the morning by the light of the moon. After a thorough inspection of the machine Teresa happened to make some remark about three-speed gears, and a discussion was launched in which Richard had to join. A clock within the house chimed two.
‘Suppose we have supper, dad?’ said Teresa, as if struck by a novel and rather pleasing idea—‘suppose we have supper. The moon will soon be setting.’
‘And Mr. ——’ said Raphael.
‘Redgrave,’ said Richard. ‘Richard Redgrave.’
‘Will sup with us, I trust,’ said Teresa.
‘True, there are seven inns in the village, but the village is asleep, and a mile off. We must offer Mr. Redgrave a bed, dad.’
‘Humph!’ exclaimed the old man again.
It was, perhaps, a strange sort of remark, yet from his lips it sounded entirely correct and friendly.