"Would you not like to go to your room, and wash and change your dress?" he asked.
"I cannot change my dress, for I have only brought one. I will go to my room presently. What hour do you dine?"
"At half-past eight."
"I have a few minutes still to talk to you, and I will not lose the opportunity. It will be necessary for me to return home the day after to-morrow."
An expression of relief swept over Mr. Delaney's countenance.
"I shall, therefore," continued Mrs. Dolman, taking no notice of this look, which she plainly saw, "have but little time at my disposal, and there is a great deal to be done. But before I proceed to anything else, may I ask you a question? How could you allow all that splendid land to lie waste?"
"What land, Jane? What do you mean?"
"Those acres of grass outside the house."
"Are you alluding to the lawns?"
"I don't know what name you choose to call all that grass, but I think it is a positive tempting of Providence to allow so much land to lie fallow. Why, you might grow potatoes or barley or oats, and make pounds and pounds a year. I know of old what the land round Delaney Manor can produce."