“Hullo, Owen, glad to see you,” holding out his hand; “so you are back?”
“Only temporarily—for a day or two.”
“You’ve done six months, and the worst is over.”
“Well, I hope so; but one never can tell.”
“Upon my word, I don’t know how you stood it. Leila described the place. I’m not a gay young fellow of six-and-twenty, and a week would have seen me out of it; but six months——” and he gazed at him in blank astonishment.
“Oh, well,” apologetically, “I’ve learnt all sorts of things. I’m quite a fair gardener, and can clip a hedge too; I know how to physic dogs, and fasten up the back of a blouse.”
“Owen!” exclaimed his sister, “I am present!”
“It was only Mrs. Hogben; she had no woman in the house, and Tom’s hands were generally dirty, and she said she looked upon me as her other son. She is a rare good old soul, and I’d do more for her than that.”
“You must feel as if you’d been underground, and come up for a breather,” said his brother-in-law.
“My breather must be short; but I’m not going to take any situation with ladies.”