‘But there is no man about, and old Davy is in bed. What am I to do?’
‘Wait till to-morrow.’
‘I cannot; I shall die of impatience. I have set my heart on a game of bowls. Do you not see, papa, that the weather may change in the night and spoil play for to-morrow?’
‘Then what do you wish?’
‘Oh! my dear papa,’ Eve nestled into his arms, ‘I don’t want much, only that you would cut the grass for me. It really will not take you ten minutes. I will promise to sweep up what is cut.’
‘I am engaged, Eve, on a very delicate test.’
‘So am I, papa.’
Mr. Ignatius Jordan looked up at her with dull surprise in his eyes.
‘I mean, papa, that if you really love me you will jump up and mow the grass. If you don’t love me you will go on muddling with those minerals and chemicals.’