And then in the
afternoon a few of the village girls drop in, and we have a little
singing and that sort of thing. I never like hurting anyone's
feelings if I can help it."
I did not say what I thought. Instead I said, "I've got that tweed
suit I wore yesterday. I can put that on if you like."
He ceased flicking the rose-bush, and knitted his brows. He seemed
to be recalling it to his imagination.
"No," he said, shaking his head, "I'm afraid it would shock her.
It's my fault, I know," he added, remorsefully. "I ought to have
told you."
Then an idea came to him.
"I suppose," he said, "you wouldn't care to pretend you were ill,
and stop in bed just for the day?"
I explained that my conscience would not permit my being a party to
such deception
"No, I thought you wouldn't," he replied. "I must explain it to
her. I think I'll say you've lost your bag. I shouldn't like her
to think bad of us."
Later on a fourteenth cousin died, leaving him a large fortune. He
purchased an estate in Yorkshire, and became a "county family," and
then his real troubles began.
From May to the middle of August, save for a little fly fishing,
which generally resulted in his getting his feet wet and catching a
cold, life was fairly peaceful; but from early autumn to late
spring he found the work decidedly trying.
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