“Just ring that bell, will you?” said the Squire. “And sit down again for another minute or two. There’s something I wanted to say to you, but I can’t call to mind what it is just now.”
Jane answered the bell in person. She gave Tom her hand in silence, but there was a world of meaning in her eyes as she did so.
“My dear, I wish you would see whether Ridley is anywhere about, and send word that I want to see him. What do you think the villain has done?”
“I don’t know, I’m sure, papa.”
“Why, he’s planted a lot of white hyacinths along with the purple ones in your poor mother’s favourite bed opposite the dressing-room window, when he knows very well that I never have any but purple ones there. She never had any but purple ones, and I never will. The scoundrel deserves to be well horsewhipped. I’ll discharge him on the spot I swear I will!”
“I will tell him to come and see you,” said Jane, calmly. She knew of old that her father’s bark was worse than his bite, and that he had no more real intention of discharging Ridley than he had of flying to the moon.
“And now, if you will just give orders to have the basket-carriage brought round, I shall be glad, dear. I feel wonderfully better to-day, and I think a drive would do me good.”
“But would Dr. Davidson approve of your going out to-day, papa?”
“Hang Dr. Davidson I’m not his slave, am I? I tell you that I feel very much better; and, to get out, if only for half an hour, will make me better still.”
“Then you will let me go with you?” said Jane.