was your intention to move in at once. If not, I'm sure you know we should have been only too pleased for you to stay here.”
“I'm quite sure you would Mrs. Cooper, and I'm very grateful to you. But I thought I had really better make the plunge at once. I'm accustomed to living alone, and there will be quite enough to occupy my evenings—looking over papers and books and so on—for some time to come. I thought if Mr. Cooper could spare the time this afternoon to go over the house and grounds with me——”
“Certainly, certainly, Mr. Humphreys. My time is your own, up to any hour you please.”
“Till dinner-time, father, you mean,” said Miss Cooper. “Don’t forget we're going over to the Brasnett’s. And have you got all the garden keys?”
“Are you a great gardener, Miss Cooper?” said Mr. Humphreys. “I wish you would tell me what I'm to expect at the Hall.”
“Oh, I don’t know about a great gardener, Mr. Humphreys: I'm very fond of flowers—but the Hall garden might be made quite
