“Here, Laurence, I’ll get down and take the short cut,” said Mr Rayner.
There was a foot-path which led from this point of the road straight to the house through a couple of fields and a plantation. After Mr. Rayner had alighted, Mr. Reade and I drove on by the road.
“What a lovely place!” I cried enthusiastically.
My companion remained silent.
“And, oh, what a beautiful pond! I do believe it has water-lilies!” I exclaimed, turning round half breathless at such a glorious discovery.
“I wouldn’t have that stagnant water near my house for my children to play about for something!” said he, in an energetic growl which surprised me.
I said no more until we drove slowly down the sloping carriage-drive through the trees which led to the house; then again my admiration broke out.
“Oh, how delightfully cool it looks, with the ivy all over it to keep out the hot sun!”
“Yes, and to keep in the cold moisture, Miss Christie. That ivy hasn’t been cut for the last five years; and it ought to be torn down altogether to make the place fit to live in. It is no better than a pest-house!” he went on, getting more and more excited. “I wouldn’t let a laborer live in it!”
“A laborer won’t have a chance until my lease is up, Laurence,” said Mr. Rayner dryly, coming out of a path among the trees. And the two men exchanged looks which showed that at the bottom of their hearts they were not friends.