Vane began at last to feel angry and annoyed; but seizing his opportunity, the doctor whispered:—
“Don’t forget, boy, that he is my guest. Prosperity has spoiled him, but I am not entertaining the successful inventor; I am only thinking of my old school-fellow whom I helped as a friend.”
“All right, uncle, I’ll be civil to him.”
Six days glided slowly by, during which Deering monopolised the whole of everybody’s time. He had the pony-carriage out, and made Vane borrow Miller Round’s boat and row him up the river, and fish with him, returning at night to eat the doctor and Mrs Lee’s excellent dinner, and drink the doctor’s best port.
And now the sixth day—the evening—had arrived, and Aunt Hannah had said to Vane:—
“I am so glad, my dear. To-morrow, he goes back to town.”
“And a jolly good job too, aunt!” cried Vane.
“Yes, my dear, but do be a little more particular what you say.”
They were seated all together in the drawing-room, with Deering in the best of spirits, when all of a sudden, he exclaimed:—
“This is the sixth day! How time goes in your pleasant home, and I’ve not said a word yet about the business upon which I came. Well, I must make up for it now. Ready, Vane?”