"Mother says she won't be long."
"Will you tell her please, that I positively must start in five minutes."
The girl disappeared. The five minutes elapsed; three more passed. The vicar got into the trap. Madeline once more appeared.
"Mother thinks, before she starts, she had better give Bee a dose of her tonic."
"Then tell her I am off without her. The train will not wait, even for your mother."
He was just going out of the gate, when a window-sash was raised, and a voice cried:
"Aidmund! Aidmund!"
He checked the horse.
"Well? Come if you are ready," he said, quite temperately, his voice showing no annoyance.
"Oh, no, I can't do that; but I thought it would be so capital if you could get me one or two things in Birdmore? I shan't be very long writing them down."