Then John Legg stopped to laugh a little before he answered:
“Oh! yes, sir. There were two gentlemen and a lady. I didn’t see their faces nor hear their names, but they seemed to belong to some seat in the neighborhood, for the tallest of the gentlemen seemed to have expected the family carriage to be there on the spot to meet the party. And when he found that it was not, well, sir, I don’t think as in all my long life I ever heard such a vast amount and choice variety of cursing.”
“Gentleman Geff all over!” muttered Dandy to himself.
“What became of them?” inquired Ran.
“Don’t know, sir. We left him there cursing land and water, sun, moon and stars, so to speak, and threatening the destruction of the earth, or words to that effect, if his carriage and servants failed to appear within the next five minutes. We walked to the Tawny Lion Inn and secured the only conveyance to be found and came on here while the gentleman waited for his coach and four, or whatever it might have been.”
“And is waiting there still, probably, and will have to wait until your ‘conveyance’ returns.”
“Well, sir, that will not be long. Julia and myself are about to say good-night,” said John Legg respectfully.
“‘Good-night,’ indeed! By no means! What do you mean? Come two hundred miles or so to see your uncle here at Haymore Hall, and after an hour’s visit say good-night? Not at all! You and Mrs. Legg will, I hope, give us the pleasure of remaining with us during your stay in Yorkshire,” said Ran heartily.
“You are very kind, sir, and we thank you very much, but——”
John Legg paused and looked at his wife, who did not help him by a word or a glance.