"Then I cannot do better than leave my dinner to you, madam," said the young man with a pleasant laugh. "I should like some fish out of that glorious sea; and the rest I leave to you. Can I have an English plum-pudding?
"An English plum-pudding! Good gracious, sir, it could not be made and boiled!"
"That will do for to-morrow, then."
Mrs. Bent departed, calling to Molly as she went. The inn kept but two servants; Molly, and a man; the latter chiefly attending to out-of-door things: horses, pigs and such like. When further help was needed indoors, it could be had from the village.
"This must be a healthy spot," remarked the stranger, taking a chair without ceremony at John Bent's fire. "It is very open."
"Uncommon healthy, sir. A bit bleak in winter, when the wind's in the east; as it is to-day."
"Have you many good families residing about?"
"Only one, sir. The Castlemaines?"
"The Castlemaines?"
"An old family who have lived here for many a year. You'd pass their place, sir, not long before getting out here; a house of greystone on your left hand. It is called Greylands' Rest."