“I hope you will always be with me to take care of me,” said Vane.
“Do my best, old fellow—do my best, little man. I say, though, do you mean me to come and have lunch?”
“It’ll be dinner to-day,” said Vane.
“But won’t your people mind?”
“Mind! no. Uncle and aunt both said I was to ask you to come as often as I liked. Uncle likes you.”
“No; does he?”
“Yes; says you’re such a rum fellow.”
“Oh!”
Macey was silent after that “oh,” and the silence lasted till they reached the manor, for Vane was thinking deeply about the quarrel that morning; but, as the former approached the house, he felt no misgivings about his being welcome, the doctor, who was in the garden, coming forward to welcome him warmly, and Mrs Lee, who heard the voices, hastening out to join them.
Ten minutes later they were at table, where Macey proved himself a pretty good trencherman till the plates were changed and Eliza brought in a dish and placed it before her mistress.