‘Considering the mishap that befell him here, it is a mark of good feeling to desire to see us all once more, don’t you think so?’
‘May be so,’ muttered he drearily. ‘At all events, it’s not a pleasant house he’s coming to. Young O’Shea there upstairs, just out of a fever; and old Miss Betty, that may arrive any moment.’
‘There’s no question of that. She says it would be ten days or a fortnight before she is equal to the journey.’
‘Heaven grant it!—hem—I mean that she’ll be strong enough for it by that time. At all events, if it is the same as to our fine friend, Mr. Walpole, I wish he’d have taken his leave of us in a letter.’
‘It is something new, papa, to see you so inhospitable.’
‘But I am not inhospitable, Kitty. Show me the good fellow that would like to pass an evening with me and think me good company, and he shall have the best saddle of mutton and the raciest bottle of claret in the house. But it’s only mock-hospitality to be entertaining the man that only comes out of courtesy and just stays as long as good manners oblige him.’
‘I do not know that I should undervalue politeness, especially when it takes the shape of a recognition.’
‘Well, be it so,’ sighed he, almost drearily. ‘If the young gentleman is so warmly attached to us all that he cannot tear himself away till he has embraced us, I suppose there’s no help for it. Where is Nina?’
‘She was reading to Gorman when I saw her. She had just relieved Dick, who has gone out for a walk.’
‘A jolly house for a visitor to come to!’ cried he sarcastically.