"My dear aunt, you surely don't imagine that I want to read the lessons at Redmarley except as a matter of kindness . . . assistance to Mr Molyneux. What other reason can I have?"
"Well," said Miss Gallup, shrewdly, "it might be that you wanted to show how well you could do it . . ." she paused.
Eloquent blushed in the darkness.
"And with an election coming on, you never know what motives folks has," she continued. "But it's my belief Mr Molyneux'd be pleased as Punch. He's all for friendliness, he is. I know who wouldn't be pleased, though——"
"Who is that?" asked Eloquent, as his aunt had stopped, evidently waiting to be questioned.
"Why, Mr Ffolliot; he don't take much part in politics, but he thinks Redmarley belongs to him, and he'd be mighty astonished if you was to get up and read in the parish church, and him not been told anything about it."
"I shall certainly call on Mr Molyneux tomorrow," said Eloquent.
CHAPTER VI
THE SQUIRE
Hilary Ffolliot, squire of Redmarley in the county of Garsetshire, did not appreciate the blessings heaped upon him by providence in the shape of so numerous a family, and from their very earliest years manifested a strong determination that no child of his should be spoilt through any injudicious slackening of discipline.