'Hec said there was something you wanted one of us to do for you, papa,' he began. 'Can I do it?'
Mr. Hervey, already seated at his writing-table, looked up.
'Well, yes,' he said, 'I want a message taken out to Griffith. Tell him he must keep your mother's pony in the stables altogether, till the second vet has seen it on Monday.'
'Is it worse?' asked Archie. 'Is that why you are going to get another vet, papa?'
'Never mind,' said Mr. Hervey, rather sharply. He had been annoyed at several things that afternoon, and the best of papas cannot always be perfectly gentle. 'Run off with my message, and when Justin comes in tell him—no, don't tell him anything,' for their father knew by experience that messages through one boy to another were very apt to 'grow' on their way.
Off ran Archie, stopping some minutes to chatter about the pony with Griffith after executing his errand, in consequence of which he came across Justin making his way in by the back gate from the fields.
'I say, Jus,' he began, 'you'd better look sharp. Papa didn't tell me to say so, but I know he's vexed at you for not coming back with Pat and me.'
'You needn't have put yourselves in the way then,' said Justin.
'We didn't—he was in the hall, or at least he looked out of his door when we came in. And— I say, Jus——'
'Well—what next? Why don't you go on?'