"Thank you, sir. I gave satisfaction to the late Mr. Faversham, and to Sir Guy Wendover before him, and I hope——"
"That we shall get on well together. Of course we shall. I like the look of you."
He felt better now. The sight of the broad expanse of the park and the smell of the sweet, pure air made him light-hearted again.
"Indeed," he continued, "I may as well tell you right away that I intend to keep everybody that was here in my uncle's days. You can tell the others that."
"Thank you, sir. But I'd like to remark that this war has made food dear."
"I'll bear that in mind; you'll not find me unjust. All who serve me shall be well paid."
"We've all done our best, sir," persisted M'Neal, who was somewhat of a character, "but I'll not deny that we shall all be the better for a master. Personally I'm not satisfied with the way things are looking."
"No? I thought they looked beautiful."
"Ah, but nothing to what they can look. We are, as you may say, in a kind of between time now. We've not planted out the beds, although we've prepared them. If you'll——"
"Of course I will," Dick interrupted him, with a laugh, "but you must give me time before making definite promises."