"Oh, yes, but some evening perhaps you will be able to call at the farm. We might go together."
"Well, I will not promise, but I may go some day!"
"Oh, thank you, thank you! I know Granfer will be glad! It is his birthday next week; he will be eighty. Isn't that very old, father?"
"It is a great age, certainly. By the way, I'm going to walk into the village after dinner, Una; will you care to go with me?"
"Yes, indeed, father!"
So after their midday meal, father and daughter started off together, with Crack in attendance as usual. The little girl chatted all the way about the many objects of interest they came across during their walk—a bird's nest in the hedge with five blue eggs in it, which Mr. Manners' sharp eyes caught sight of, and the many flowers which blossomed everywhere.
"How kind of God to make the world so beautiful!" she exclaimed, when her father called her attention to the view visible through a gateway—a sweep of fair meadow-lands dotted with sheep and lambs busily engaged in cropping the grass. They stood a few minutes watching a group of lambs at play, skipping around each other, and jumping one by one on the top of a little hillock, and down again. Una laughed to see the pretty creatures so happy, clapping her hands with enjoyment of the scene.
Their destination was the village shop, which was also the post-office; and while Mr. Manners was transacting his business Una stood in the doorway looking up and down the street. Presently she uttered a little exclamation of mingled joy and surprise, and ran back to her father.
"Granfer is coming!" she cried. "He will be passing here in a minute! Won't you come and speak to him now?"
She caught hold of her father by the hand, but he gently disengaged the clinging fingers as he answered kindly but firmly: