wing
a page on the manipulation of the roots of espaliers and pyramid trees,
he was about to go out and attack Sanders, the gardener, when Edward
announced Sir Felix Landells and Captain Vanleigh on business, and they
were shown in.

"Really--hope not deranging--untimely call," said Sir Felix.

"We will not detain you long, Sir Hampton," said Vanleigh, with a great
show of deference.

"Er-rum, gentlemen," said Sir Hampton, whose face shone with pride, "in
these rural--er-rum--districts, when one is--er-rum--far from society
and town, sociability and hospitality should, er--"

"Go hand in hand--exactly," said Vanleigh, smiling.

"Er-rum, I am very glad to see you, gentlemen," said Sir Hampton.
"Oddly--er-rum--oddly enough, we were discussing a little dinner for
Friday. Could you--er-rum--both, both--er--honour us with your
company?"

And he looked from one to the other.

"Well," said Vanleigh, hesitating, and glancing at Sir Felix, "it
depends somewhat on--Would you like to speak out, Landells?"

"'Sure you, no. Do it so much better. Pray go on."

And the young man turned crimson.

"Not pre-engaged, I hope?" said Sir Hampton.

"Well, Sir Hampton," said Vanleigh, modestly, after a pause, during
which he sat with his eyes on the carpet, "this is all so new to me, and
you have confused me so with your kind invitation, that my business--our
business--comes doubly hard to us to state."

"Er-rum--pray go on," said Sir Hampton, smiling condescendingly, for all
this was sweet to his soul; two scions of aristocratic houses with sense
enough to respect his position in life. Captain Vanleigh might have
borrowed a hundred pounds on the instant had he liked; but he was
playing for higher stakes.

"Then, if you won't speak, Landells, I must," said Vanleigh, who seemed
overcome with confusion. "No doubt there is a proper etiquette to be
observed in such cases, but I confess I am too agitated to recall it,
and I merely appeal to you, Sir Hampton, as a gentleman and a parent."

Sir Hampton bowed, and uttered a cough that seemed wrapped up in cotton
wool, it was so soft.

"The fact is, Sir Hampton, we have been here now three weeks--Landells
and I--and we have been so charmed, so taken with your sweet daughters,
that, in this hurried, confused way--I tell you, in short, we thought it
right, as gentlemen, to come first and tell you, to ask you for your
permission to visit more frequently, to be more in their society