Page:Orley Farm (Serial Volume 4).pdf/31

Rh almost angrily. In his heart he was very angry, for he did not love to be interrupted.

"Oh, yes; and if that were sufficient we might all walk our thirty miles a day. But some of us must earn wages for other people, or the world will make no progress. Civilization, as I take it, consists in efforts made not for oneself but for others.'

'If you won't take any more wine we will join the ladies,' said the baronet.

'He has not taken any at all,' said Peregrine, filling his own glass for the last time and emptying it.

'That young man is the most conceited puppy it was ever my misfortune to meet,' said Sir Peregrine to Mrs. Orme, when she came to kiss him and to take his blessing as she always did before leaving him for the night.

'I am sorry for that,' said she, 'for I like his mother so much.'

'I also like her,' said Sir Peregrine; 'but I cannot say that I shall ever be very fond of her son.'

'I'll tell you what, mamma,' said young Peregrine, the same evening in his mother's dressing-room. 'Lucius Mason was too many for the governor this evening.'

'I hope he did not tease your grandfather.'

'He talked him down regularly, and it was plain enough that the governor did not like it.'

And then the day was over.

the following day Lady Mason made two visits, using her new vehicle for the first time. She would fain have walked had she dared; but she would have given terrible offence to her son by doing so. He had explained to her, and with some truth, that as their joint income was now a thousand a year, she was quite entitled to such a luxury; and then he went on to say that as he had bought it for her, he should be much hurt if she would not use it. She had put it off from day to day, and now she could put it off no longer.

Her first visit was by appointment at The Cleeve. She had promised Mrs. Orme that she would come up, some special purpose having been named;—but with the real idea, at any rate on the part of the latter, that they might both be more comfortable together than alone. The walk across from Orley Farm to The Cleeve had always been very dear to Lady Mason. Every step of it was over beautiful ground, and a delight in scenery was one of the few

.