“Thank you, but I have had a little beer.”
“It is one of the shepherds,” said Mrs. Failing, in low tones.
Agnes smiled rather wildly. Mrs. Lewin had warned her that Cadover was an extraordinary place, and that one must never be astonished at anything. A shepherd in the drawing-room! No harm. Still one ought to know whether it was a shepherd or not. At all events he was in gentleman’s clothing. She was anxious not to start with a blunder, and therefore did not talk to the young fellow, but tried to gather what he was from the demeanour of Rickie.
“I am sure, Mrs. Failing, that you need not talk of ‘making’ people come to Cadover. There will be no difficulty, I should say.”
“Thank you, my dear. Do you know who once said those exact words to me?”
“Who?”
“Rickie’s mother.”
“Did she really?”
“My sister-in-law was a dear. You will have heard Rickie’s praises, but now you must hear mine. I never knew a woman who was so unselfish and yet had such capacities for life.”
“Does one generally exclude the other?” asked Rickie.