“A little of the professor goes a long way?” she suggested archly.
“I did not come to see him, but my sister,” he answered stiffly.
“Aye, I expect you came home to look up missie,” put in Sam. “There be only the two of you.”
“Partly, and partly business; it is bad luck I can’t wait on and have a shot at the partridge.”
“Aye, and I could give you a rare day’s sport. Well, maybe another time,” said the farmer. “Now Tossie, these horses be too warm to be kept standing. Good-day, sir, and good luck. Good-day, missie—see you soon,” and he moved off.
Tossie, I observed, was not disposed to follow, but inclined to linger and improve her acquaintance with Ronnie.
“I think your sister might have brought you up to see us, Mr. Lingard; I do, indeed,” she said emphatically.
“We have only had a short time together, Miss Soady, and Eva had such a lot of talking to get through,” he replied with his charming smile; “better luck next time.”
“I hope so,” agreed Tossie, as she wrung his hand, and, with obvious reluctance, followed her parent. As they departed at a walking pace Ronnie declaimed:
“‘I saw them go: one horse was blind,