“Quite well, thank you, father; at least, I think I've got a little headache.”
“There! I told you,” said his father and mother both at once.
“The child's very poorly” added his mother.
“The child's quite well,” added his father.
And then they both laughed.
“You see,” said his mother, “I've had a letter from my sister at Sandwich.”
“Sleepy old hole!” said his father.
“Don't abuse the place; there's good people in it,” said his mother.
“Right, old lady,” returned his father; “only I don't believe there are more than two pair of carriage-horses in the whole blessed place.”
“Well, people can get to heaven without carriages—or coachmen either, husband. Not that I should like to go without my coachman, you know. But about the boy?”