“And the illustrations were excellent,” went on the Squire—“excellent.”
“Rather,” assented Haldane. “I wish my box were not too insignificant for The Old Country Side, Miss Calmour, then you could scare up an illustrated interview with it.”
“And bring in Poogie,” said Yvonne. “Oh, and—incidentally—father.”
“Where do I come in?” hazarded her brother.
“To spoil the picture, of course.”
“Thanks,” answered the boy, with a good-humoured laugh. Yvonne looked at him and shook her golden head.
“Do you know, Miss Calmour, Reggie is the most provoking child. It’s simply impossible to tease him. I’m always trying, and you’ve just got a sample of how I succeed. Is he the same at Hillside, Gerard?”
“Can’t tell tales out of school.”
Then Yvonne retorted, and the banter went on fast and furious, but always good-tempered, and sometimes really humorous, until it finally merged into plans for fishing on the morrow.
“They are threatening to take us all down to the west park presently, Miss Calmour,” said Wagram soon after lunch. “Do you feel up to that amount of exertion?”