‘How’s Winifred, Maurice?’
‘Getting on wonderfully well. I really think she is going to make a start, after all! and she is in such spirits herself.’
‘And the boy?’
‘Oh, a thumping great fellow! I promise you he’ll be a match for your Maurice.’
‘I do believe it is to reward Winifred for sparing you in the spring when we wanted you so much! Come, sit down, and wait for Edmund.’
‘No; I’ve not a moment to stay. I’m to meet Bury again at Woodside at six o’clock, he drove me there, and I walked on, looking in at your lodgings by the way, Ulick.’
‘I’m not there now. I am keeping guard at the bank.’
‘So they told me. Well, I hope your guard is not too strict for you to come over to Fairmead on Sunday; we want you to do our boy the kindness to be his godfather!’
Sophy blushed with approving gratitude.
‘I don’t consider that it will be a sinecure—he squalls in such a characteristic manner that I am convinced he will rival his cousin here in all amiable and amenable qualities; so I consider it particularly desirable that he should be well provided with great disciplinarians.’