"How your fader and I agree!" said he to Mary Anne. "We are one family already."
And we all laughed heartily as we went to our rooms. Every country has its own ways and habits, but I must say, Molly, that the furniture of these castles is very mean. There were two children's beds for K. I. and myself,—at least they did not look longer than the beds in the nursery at home,—with what K. I. called a swansdown poultice for coverlid; no curtains of any kind, and the pillows as big as a small mattress. Four oak chairs, and a looking-glass the size of your face, and a chest of drawers that would n't open, and that K. I. had to make serviceable by lifting off the marble slab on the top,—this was all our room contained. There were old swords and pikes hung up in abundance, and a tree of the family history, framed and glazed, over the chimney,—but these had little to do towards making the place comfortable.
"He's a good farmer, anyhow," said K. I., looking out of the window. "I did n't see such turnips since I left England."
"I suppose he has a good steward," said I, for I began to fear that K. I. would make some blunder, and speak to the Baron about crops, and so forth.
"Them drills are as neat as ever I seen," said he, half to himself.
"Look now, K. I.," said I to him, gravely, "make your own remarks on whatever you like, but remember where we are, and that it's exactly the same as if we were on a visit to the Duke of Leinster at home. If you must ask questions about farming, always say, 'How does your steward do this?' 'What does he think of that?' Keep in mind that the aristocracy does n't dirty its fingers abroad as it does in England, with agricultural pursuits, and that they have neither prizes for cows nor cottagers!"
"Mrs. D.," said he, turning on me like a tiger, "are you going to teach me polite breeding and genteel manners?"
"I wish to the saints I could," said I, "if the lesson was only good for a week."
"Look now," said he, "if I detect the slightest appearance of any drilling or training of me,—if I ever find out that you want to impose me on the world for anything but what I am,—may I never do any good if I don't disgrace you all by my behavior!"
"Can you be worse?" said I.