"Don't be absurd, Joe," said Helen.
"I'm going to take Halliday down to the club, if you'll excuse us," said Mr. Gillespie. "He'll start for the farm to-morrow----"
"So soon!" interrupted Joe quickly. "I thought we should all go together at the end of the week."
"I must go to-morrow," said Mr. Halliday, "and as I shall be off before you're up in the morning I'll say good-bye now. I'll be back in a few days, and then you can all come and view our estate. It's just as well that I am going first, for we shall have to get some rooms ready for you, you know."
He shook hands all round, and left with Mr. Gillespie, who had been speaking in an undertone to his wife. Joe Browne followed them from the room.
"I say, Cousin David," he said, "what's up?"
Hesitating a moment, Mr. Halliday put John's note into his hand. Joe whistled softly.
"I'm coming," he said. "So will Poll. What time do you start?"
"My dear boy, your mother----"
"Mother's an old trump. I shall tell her the exact state of the case quietly, of course; I won't scare the girls; and she won't turn a hair. We'll ride, I suppose? You can get us mounts, Mr. Gillespie?"