"At old granddad. You never saw him in such a tantrum. Left to himself, he'd be for pitching water on the head of this lawyer when he comes to the door; ay, and upon my word, I'm not sure but he would do even more than that. Finely he went on, to the edification of one of the house-wenches. I advised him to betake himself to Nullington in the morning to buy his corn and clover."
Dr. Jago made no particular reply.
"This lawyer who is coming," said he, "is he well acquainted with the Squire?"
"I believe they met once or twice a few years ago," replied Hubert.
Apparently Aaron saw the expediency of taking his grandson's advice, for in the morning he made himself ready for the visit to Nullington. Hubert chanced to pass through the kitchen when the old man was having his gaiters buttoned by Phemie, Eliza standing by.
"I wonder you did not take the dog-cart, sir," said Hubert.
"What do I want with the dog-cart?" contended the old man, in an irate tone. "Do you think I've not got strength enough left in me to walk into Nullington?--There, there, girl, that will do," he added, "giving a stamp or two to his umbrella, as Phemie came to the last button.
"As you please," said Hubert, who never allowed himself to be put out of temper by the old man. "And if you chance to call at the saddler's, tell him I find the new stirrups a great success."
His umbrella in one hand, his thick walking-stick in the other, Aaron set out. Hubert put on his hat, and walked with him through the shrubbery at the back of the house. The clocks were striking ten. The clouds were gathering, as if for rain.
At eleven o'clock Charles Plackett and his managing clerk, Mr. Foxey, drove up to Heron Dyke, and stopped at the main entrance. They were admitted by one of the housemaids, and found Hubert Stone waiting to receive them. Mr. Charles Plackett was a short rubicund man of fifty-five, with a quick eye, a ready smile, and a chirruping voice. He had far more the look of a gentleman-farmer than of a busy London lawyer. Young Mr. Foxey was a placid-faced individual in spectacles and a suit of unimpeachable black.