One morning he said, as they went into the garden, "You must sometimes feel a little lonely here ... when I am away ... all alone here with mother."
"Oh dear no! we have lots to do. I look after the pets in the morning. I feed the cats and the rooks, and I see that the canaries have fresh water and seed. And then the bees take up a lot of our time. We have twenty-two hives. Mrs Norton says she ought to make five pounds a year on each. Sometimes we lose a swarm or two, and then Mrs Norton is so cross. We were out for hours with the gardener the other day, but we could do no good; we could not get them out of that elm tree. You see that long branch leaning right over the wall; well it was on that branch that they settled, and no ladder was tall enough to reach them; and when Bill climbed the tree and shook them out they flew right away."
"Shall I, shall I propose to her now?" thought John. But Kitty continued talking, and it was difficult to interrupt her. The gravel grated under their feet; the rooks were flying about the elms. At the end of the garden there was a circle of fig trees. A silent place, and John vowed he would say the word there. But as they approached his courage died within him, and he was obliged to defer his vows until they reached the green-house.
"So your time is fully occupied here."
"And in the afternoon we go out for drives; we pay visits. You never pay visits; you never go and call on your neighbours."
"Oh, yes I do; I went the other day to see your father."
"Ah yes, but that is only because he talks to you about Latin authors."
"No, I assure you it isn't. Once I have finished my book I shall never look at them again."
"Well, what will you do?"
"Next winter I intend to go in for hunting. I have told a dealer to look out for a couple of nice horses for me."