"It is very kind of you, I'm sure, Mr. Waycott, though it was quite unnecessary to trouble you. Antonia is most thoughtless; I can't get a man or a boy to do anything to-day. She has got them all."
"They look uncommonly lively over it."
"I daresay, anything is better than one's plain duty. However, it will be over to-morrow." Lady Dove heaved a sigh.
"It's very kind of you to keep open house," said Lewis, not knowing what to say.
"I don't wish to get credit when it's not deserved. Antonia will pay for it all. The General left her a great deal of money, you know."
"I suppose so," said Lewis, screwing his stick round on the gravel.
"Yes, indeed; I don't quite know how much, because my poor husband has done nothing else these last four years but attend to all this wretched money. I assure you I never could get any of his company, and somehow he was fortunate in some land speculations, which he never was with his own."
"Sir Evas said he would quite miss the occupation."
"Well, I for one shall be glad for him. He looks ten years older. It's perfectly ridiculous to wear yourself out; and he never gets a penny by it, of course. He is quite morbidly particular about money. He always says he never would have married me if I had been an heiress. He does so hate that modern habit of heiress hunting."
"I don't think anyone would think Sir Evas was paid for his kindness."