At the drive gate he met Earley carrying the can of cream, with Tony trotting by his side.
"I'm going into the village, Tony, and Auntie Jan says you may as well come with me for company. Will you come?"
Tony looked dubious. Still, he remembered that Auntie Jan had said he must try and be kind to poor Daddie, who had been so ill and was so sad.
"All right," he said with a little sigh, and took the hand Hugo held out.
"He'll be quite safe with me, Earley," Hugo
said with a pleasant smile. "Miss Ross knows I'm going to take him."
Nevertheless Earley went to the back door and asked Hannah to inform her mistress that "Mr. Tancred had taken Mazter Tony along of 'im."
Hannah was busy, and serene in her conception of Hugo as the sorrowing widower, did not think the fact that Tony had gone for a walk with his own father was worth a journey to the day-nursery.
"How would you like a ride down to the junction?" Hugo said. "I believe we could just catch a train if we take the omnibus at 'The Green Hart.' I want to make inquiries about something for Auntie Jan."
Tony loved trains; he had only been twice to the junction since he came to Wren's End; it was a fascinating place. Daddie seemed in an agreeable mood this morning. Auntie Jan would be pleased that he should be nice to him.