“But I understood from Claud here that you were both going out after lunch.”
“I’ve had a particular letter sent down in a packet, and I must ride over and telegraph back at some length.”
“We’ll send Tom over for you,” said Claud; and then he felt as if he would have given anything to withdraw the words.
“It’s very good of you,” said Garstang, smiling pleasantly, “but the business is important. Oblige me by ordering the horse at once.”
“Oh, I’ll run round. Have Brown Charley here in five minutes.”
“Thank you, Claud; and perhaps you’ll give me a glass of sherry and a biscuit, James?”
“Yes, yes, of course; but you’ll be back to dinner?”
“Of course. We must finish what we are about.”
“Yes, we must finish what we are about,” said Wilton, with a dismal look; and he rang the bell, just as Claud passed the window on the way to the stables.
A quarter of an hour later Garstang was cantering down the avenue, just as the lunch-bell was ringing; and Claud winked at his father as they crossed to the drawing-room, where his mother and Kate were seated, and chuckled to himself as he thought of the long afternoon he meant to have.