He went over to the bell and put his hand on the rope. Not for a fortune would Griff have suggested that they had drunk enough, though he could see only one end to the adventure—and that a most annoying one, with Kate awaiting his return. But the Squire thought better of it, and flashed round on his guest with merry boisterousness.
"Well, well, I'll let you off another bottle. You are young in marriage yet, and your wife might not altogether like it if you turned up happily drunk. Women are such fools about these matters."
When Griff succeeded at last in making his escape, Squire Daneholme walked with him down the drive as far as the Saxilton highroad. There was a faint tinge of regret in his tone as he held out his hand to his guest.
"I thought the fresh air might help a bit, Lomax. But you're as steady as a rock, confound you! You must come again when marriage wears thin, and we'll make a night of it. Bless you, boy, I have not taken to any one for years as I have to you."
Griff, laughing off the compliment, sprang into the saddle.
"Stay, lad!" shouted the Squire, as Lassie was breaking into a trot. "A piece of parting advice. Ride straight, drink level, never repent of your sins, and die as I find you—a jolly good fellow. Good-bye."
Late that evening, when Kate had left him alone with the mother, Griff summoned up all his courage and blurted out what had been the trend of his morning's business.
"I have bought Gorsthwaite Hall, mother."
She looked up sharply at him.
"So it has come at last, Griff? I feared it would, some day—but scarcely as soon as this."