“Oh, she is a very good sort of a girl, after all! But my tastes do not run in that direction. She is a guest at Stanyon merely while her parents are visiting in the north. They live at Gilbourne: in fact, they are your tenants. Her ladyship has a kindness for Drusilla, which is not wonderful, for she is always very obliging, and her lack of countenance, as you have it, makes it in the highest degree unlikely that she will ever be a danger to Lady St. Erth’s schemes for Martin.” He rose from his chair, and added, glancing down at the Earl: “We can offer you better entertainment, I hope! There is the hunting, remember, and your coverts should afford you excellent sport.”
“My dear Theo, I may have been abroad for a few years, but I was reared in England, you know!” expostulated Gervase. “If you will tell me what I am to hunt, or shoot, at this moment — !”
Theo laughed. “Wood-pigeons!”
“Yes, and rabbits. I thank you!”
“Well, you will go to London for the Season, I daresay.”
“You may say so with the fullest confidence.”
“I see it is useless for me to waste my eloquence upon you. Only remain at Stanyon for long enough to understand in what case you stand, and I must be satisfied! Tomorrow, I give you warning, I shall make you attend to business. I won’t tease you any more tonight, however. Sleep sound!”
“I hope I may, but I fear my surroundings may give me a nightmare. Where are you quartered, Theo?”
“Oh, in the Tower! It has come to be considered my particular domain. My bedchamber is above the muniment room, you know.”
“A day’s march to reach you! It must be devilish uncomfortable!”