"Look at the thing
from the humorous point of view. It's funny when you come to think
of it. Wherever the poor girl goes, trying to peel her potatoes in
peace and quietness, we burst in upon her. What we ought to do now
is to take a walk in the wood. It is a pretty wood. We might say we
had come to pick wild flowers."
But I could not persuade him. He said he had letters to write, and,
if I would allow him, would remain in his room till dinner was ready.
Dick and Veronica came in a little later. Dick had been to see Mr.
St. Leonard to arrange about lessons in farming. He said he thought
I should like the old man, who wasn't a bit like a farmer. He had
brought Veronica back in one of her good moods, she having met there
and fallen in love with a donkey. Dick confided to me that, without
committing himself, he had hinted to Veronica that if she would
remain good for quite a long while I might be induced to buy it for
her. It was a sturdy little animal, and could be made useful.
Anyhow, it would give Veronica an object in life--something to strive
for--which was just what she wanted. He is a thoughtful lad at
times, is Dick.
The dinner was more successful than I had hoped for. Robina gave us
melon as a hors d'oeuvre, followed by sardines and a fowl, with
potatoes and vegetable marrow. Her cooking surprised me. I had
warned young Bute that it might be necessary to regard this dinner
rather as a joke than as an evening meal, and was prepared myself to
extract amusement from it rather than nourishment.
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