“Thatch End Cottages!”
“At Rufford.”
“I do not know what your Grace can be meaning!”
“They are for ever complaining of them. I daresay they should all be pulled down. In fact, I am sure of it, for I have seen them.”
“Seen them, your Grace?” said Nettlebed, quite shocked. “I am sure I do not know when you can have done so!”
“When we were in Yorkshire, I rode over,” replied the Duke tranquilly.
“Now that,” said Nettlebed, in a displeased way, “is just what your Grace should not be doing! It is Mr. Scriven who should attend to such matters, as I am sure he is willing and able to do, let alone he has his clerks to be running about the country for him!”
“Only he does not attend to it,” said the Duke, sitting down before his dressing-table.
Nettlebed handed him his neckcloth. “Then your Grace may depend upon it there is nothing as needs attending to,” he said.
“You remind me very much of uncle,” remarked the Duke.