CHAPTER XXI.
SQUIRE PAGET'S VISIT.
It was not a very long walk from Squire Paget's elegant mansion on the hill to the humble cottage occupied by Mrs. Nelson and Ralph, but the squire made it longer by taking numerous back roads. It was easy to imagine that he wished to be seen by no outsider in making his proposed visit.
It was nearly eight o'clock when he came within sight of the cottage. He saw that the lamp was lit in the sitting-room, and near it sat the widow, reading the latest copy of the county weekly newspaper. Ralph was nowhere in sight.
"The boy must be upstairs," thought the squire. "Most likely he is dressing to go out for the evening," he went on, thinking of his own son's ways. Percy rarely spent an evening at home.
The squire entered the garden by a side gate, and, hurrying to the front door, knocked sharply.
The loud summons startled Mrs. Nelson, and made her break off abruptly in her reading. With the lamp in her hand, she opened the door to see who her late visitor was.
"Good-evening, Mrs. Nelson," said the squire, stiffly.
"Why, good-evening, squire," she returned, in great surprise.
Never before had the great man condescended to visit her humble abode.