They were walking round towards the Red Court now, to which he had turned, and Mr. Thornycroft changed the subject. She could not fail to see that he wished it dropped. At the gates of the farm she wished him good afternoon, and took the road to the heath.
Justice Thornycroft did not enter the gates, but went round to the back entrance. Passing by the various outbuildings, he gained the yard, just as a man was driving out with a waggon and team.
"Where are you going?" asked the justice.
"After the oats, sir. Mr. Richard telled me."
"Is Mr. Richard about?"
"He be close to his own stables, sir."
Mr. Thornycroft went on across the yard, not to the house but to the stables at its end. This portion of the stables (as may be remembered) was detached from the rest, and had formed part of the old ruins. It was shut in by a wall. The horses of the two elder sons were kept there, and their dog-cart. It was their whim and pleasure that Hyde, the man-servant (who could turn his hand to anything indoors or out), should attend to this dog-cart and the horses used in it, and not the groom. Richard was sitting on the frame of the well just on this side the wall, doing something to the collar of his dog.
"Dicky," said the justice, without any sort of circumlocution, "I think I shall give the Red Court a mistress."
Richard lifted his dark stern face to see whether--as he verily thought--his father was joking. "Give it a what?" he asked.
"A mistress. I shall take a wife, I think."