"What a practical man you are, Mr. Butler!" cried she, still laughing; "it will be quite delightful to get back again into the society of practical people after all this easy-going laissez-aller time. But you must not be too hard upon me at first. I've several things to do."
"You won't be saying 'goodbye' to anybody or anything of that sort?"
"O no, nothing of that sort, you may depend."
"That's right; you mean putting your things together, eh?"
"Yes; packing and getting ready to start."
"Well, twenty-four hours will be enough for that, I should think. Suppose we say to-morrow at noon?"
"Ye-es, give me a little longer: say two in the afternoon, then I shall be perfectly ready."
"And where shall we meet?"
"We must get across to the rail at once. Not to Torquay; there's a small station nearer here, where they won't think of looking for us. Not that I suppose they'd take any trouble of that kind when they find I'm once gone. However, it's best to be prepared. Can you drive?"
"I should think so!" said Mr. Effingham with a chuckle. "I've driven most things, from a shofle-cab in town to the mail-sleigh in Canada!"