The gallant captain's brow lowered.
"None of your lip, my girl!" he remarked. "What do you mean—mess things?"
"I mean that you'll have to play carefully if you aren't going to scare him away."
"Scare him? How?"
"Well, you and the others are a bit out of your depth in this affair. I'll do you the justice, Dad, to admit that in the ordinary way of business you are a hard nut to crack; but coming the country gentleman over a man who, though he's a mug, is a country gentleman, is rather more of a job than your lot can manage comfortably. Look at Jerry!"
"What's wrong with Jerry?"
"Him? It's the first time he's played at being a gamekeeper, and he doesn't know the rules, that's all."
"How do you know?"
"The Honourable told me. Said it wasn't his business, of course, but he was afraid my father had got hold of a thoroughly incompetent keeper, and perhaps he ought to be told so—haw!"
The captain snorted.