'And the sad also,' Humphrey said, with an appealing look, which Mary understood only too well.
'Come and see the little chickies, Master Humphrey,' Ambrose said. 'There's three little ducks amongst them. Aunt Lou put the eggs under the old mother for fun. Grannie does not know, and when the little ducklings waddle off to the pond, she'll be in a fright, and think they'll all be drowned, and so will the hen.'
But Humphrey scarcely heeded the child's chatter, he was earnestly looking at Mary Gifford's face.
Surely there must be some fresh cause of trouble there, for he thought he saw traces of recent tears.
Little Ambrose, finding his appeal to Humphrey took no effect, scampered off to the poultry yard, Lucy following. She thought it would be wiser to leave Humphrey to plead her cause, and persuade Mary that if his mother would consent to her journey to London, she was better out of the way when Mary raised objections to the fulfilment of her wishes.
'Is there any new cause of trouble, Mistress Gifford,' Humphrey asked.
'Nothing new—as you take the word.'
'Nought in which I can be of help?'
Mary hesitated, and Humphrey said,—
'The wrangles and quarrels yonder are on the increase. Is that so?' he asked. 'I heard loud voices when I came up to the house a short time ago, and Lucy rushed out with flaming cheeks and sparkling eyes.'