“Well, I have done what lay in my power to keep the property intact,” Theo said gruffly. “But I am determined you shall be made to attend to your affairs, and so I warn you!”
“What a fierce fellow you are, to be sure! But you wrong me, you know! I did read my father’s will, and I fancy I know pretty well how things stand.”
“Then I wonder that you will be so expensive, Gervase!” said Theo forthrightly. “The charges you have made upon the estate this past twelvemonth — !”
“Oh, won’t it bear them? I shall be obliged to marry an heiress!”
“I wish you will be serious! Things have not come to such a pass as that, but you will do well to be a little more careful. When I have shown you how matters stand, I hope you may be persuaded to take up your residence here. It will not do to leave Stanyon masterless, you know.”
“Stanyon has a very good master in you, I fancy.”
“Nonsense! I am nothing but your agent.”
“But I should find it a dead bore!” objected Gervase. “Only consider the dreadful evening I have spent already! I have not the remotest guess where Martin went to, but I am sure he was not to be blamed for his flight. I wish I had had the courage to follow his example! And who, pray, is that little squab of a female? Was she invited for my entertainment? Don’t tell me she is an heiress! I could not — no, I really could not be expected to pay my addresses to anyone with so little countenance or conversation!”
“Drusilla! No, no, nothing of, that sort!” smiled Theo. “I fancy my aunt thinks she would make a very suitable wife for me!”
“My poor Theo!”