“Then I will step in and wait for him.”
“Who shall I say it is?”
“Frank Frost.”
Squire Haynes had just passed his cup for coffee when Bridget entered and reported that Frank Frost was in the drawing-room and would like to see him when he had finished his breakfast.
“Frank Frost!” repeated the squire, arching his eyebrows. “What does he want, I wonder?”
“Shure he didn't say,” said Bridget.
“Very well.”
“He is captain of the boys' company, John, isn't he?” asked the squire.
“Yes,” said John sulkily. “I wish him joy of his office. I wouldn't have anything to do with such a crowd of ragamuffins.”
Of course the reader understands that this was “sour grapes” on John's part.