“You will be very happy to render Louisa your assistance,” stated the Dowager, in a voice that did not admit of argument. “Poor Louisa! But I told her how it would be, for I am sure there was never anyone more disobliging than Mrs. Neath, and now, you see, she will not answer above half the questions Louisa has addressed to her. It is all of a piece! She behaved in a very unhandsome way to Mrs. Warboys about a poultry-woman once, and when I heard Grampound had the intention of hiring Kentham I advised him rather to come to Stanyon, for, depend upon it, I said, you will not like to hire Mrs. Neath’s house, for she is a very disagreeable woman. You see what has come of it! Louisa cannot recall whether the two saloons can be thrown into one, or how many beds they are able to make up, and so St. Erth is obliged to drive there to discover how it may be! It is a great deal too bad of Mrs. Neath, and I should not be at all surprised if she has neglected to reply to Louisa’s questions on purpose to drag St. Erth into her set! She is a very encroaching woman, and I have never invited her to Stanyon, save on Public Days. If you do not care to put yourself in her way, Gervase, Theo may go in your stead.”
“My dear ma’am, Theo is going in the opposite direction to Kentham!”
“It cannot signify to him, if he goes first to Kentham. However, I daresay she will more readily accede to your requests than to his. He is not at all conciliatory — not that I should wish to conciliate Mrs. Neath, but how shocking it would be if she refused to permit poor little Pug to go to Kentham!”
“Are you going all that way to beg favours for Pug?” demanded Martin scornfully.
“I suppose so. Something tells me it would be the wisest course. I may as well drive over to Kentham this afternoon, for I have nothing else to do — unless I go with you, after these kestrels of yours.”
“Oh — ! If you choose! But I daresay I shan’t get a sight of them,” Martin replied ungraciously. “You will be wasting your time, I expect — and I may stay out later than you would like, on the chance of a rabbit or two.”
“Then I had better go to Kentham,” said the Earl placidly. “I will pull up at the Wickton cross-road on my way back, in case you should still be out, and wish to be driven home.”
“No need: I’d as lief walk. It would fret me to know that you might be waiting for me.”
“As you please,” the Earl said, shrugging. “What had Helston to show you?”
“Nothing you would care for. At least, there was one bay I liked. He is not up to my weight, but I daresay he might suit you.”