“You told me Anderson offered you two hundred for that cob,” broke in Temple.
“Yes, and asked how much more would tempt me to sell him.”
“If he were a peer of the realm, and took such a liberty with me, I 'd not forgive him,” said Temple, as he arose and left the room in a burst of indignation.
“I may say we are a very high-spirited family,” said Jack, gravely, “and I 'll warn the world not to try any familiarities with us.”
“Come away, naughty boy,” whispered Eleanor; “you are always trailing your coat for some one to stand upon.”
“Tell me, Nelly,” said he, as they took their way through the pinewood that led to the cottage, “tell me, Nelly, am I right or wrong in my appreciation—for I really want to be just and fair in the matter—are we Bramleighs confounded snobs?”
The downright honest earnestness with which he put the question made her laugh heartily, and for some seconds left her unable to answer him.
“I half suspect that we may be, Jack,” said she, still smiling.
“I'm certain of one thing,” continued he, in the same earnest tone; “our distinguished guest deems us such. There is a sort of simpering enjoyment of all that goes on around him, and a condescending approval of us that seems to say, 'Go on, you 'll catch the tone yet. You 're not doing badly by any means.' He pushed me to the very limit of my patience the other day with this, and I had to get up from luncheon and leave the house to avoid being openly rude to him. Do you mind my lighting a cigar, Nelly, for I 've got myself so angry that I want a weed to calm me down again?”
“Let us talk of something else; for on this theme I'm not much better tempered than yourself.”