“They shall come up to Ardley next time, and I’ll see if I can’t beat you.”
“What! you’ll have the schools up to your place, sir, next year!”
“To be sure I will; and I’ve got an idea in my head that will take the shine out of your treaty for I’ll have a display of fireworks.”
“There, Betsey, I never thought of no fireworks; and we might have had a regular show off. I never thought of them. Oh!”
“You could not have made the children happier, Mr Burge, if you had remembered the fireworks,” said Hazel, coming to the rescue. “They thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”
“Well, I meant ’em to. Miss Thorne; I meant ’em to, indeed.”
“I agree with Miss Thorne,” said Canninge, “and my first step will be to come here for your help.”
“And you shall have it too, sir, hearty; that you shall.”
“You will come and take off your things now, my dear,” said Miss Burge then. “Mr Canninge will excuse us, I’m sure; and, bless me, if here isn’t Mr Lambent coming up the drive.”
George Canninge felt disposed to go, but thought he would stay, and waited; while the bell was heard to clang, the steps of the servant followed, and a short colloquy was heard, resulting in the vicar leaving his card, and turning away.