“By the way, talking of ‘running down,’ you seem to see a good deal of that fellow Doran. How does he get leave?”
“Oh, pending retirement.”
“Ah, so he is going. I wonder what he will do with himself? It’s rather a bore to be a rich man with nothing to do.”
“Like yourself, for instance?”
“Yes.”
“But, cousin Dudley, you have lots to do if you like; you could go about your property, and see things for yourself. You’d really like it after a bit; you would know what to do, and what to give, and what to take away.”
“Yes, yes,” impatiently, “I know. You are always preaching.”
“And you won’t practise!”
“Well, perhaps, your sermons may do me good; but I can’t say there is much jam in the powder! I am aware I’m an absentee landlord, but not a hard one.”
“Pray, how can you tell?” she asked.