‘Ah, she’ll tell ’ee about that, Richard,’ went on Isaac; and his enormous boot came slowly sliding across the floor till it reached Richard’s foot, which it proceeded to kick in an admonitory fashion. ‘Jist ax her about that—If ye’d ha’ known she was wantin’ the door open you’d ha’ opened it fast enough for Mrs. F., would n’t ’ee, Richard?’ ‘Certainly,’ responded Marshall, with his eyes still glued on his uncle’s face. ‘Ah, you can jist talk about that,’ hinted the latter, as he proceeded to search in his pocket for his pipe. A dead silence ensued. Isaac looked from one to the other, and the perspiration stood upon his brow. His strenuous efforts had exhausted him, but the desired consummation seemed just as far off as ever. ‘Have you got your tobacco-box, Uncle Isaac?’ inquired the dutiful nephew presently. ‘Let me give you a light,’ said Rosalie. There they were again! What was the good of their talking to him? He wanted them to talk to each other. ‘Richard,’ said Isaac, after sucking for a moment at his pipe—when Rosalie applied the match a flash of inspiration had come to him—‘Richard, my boy, ye have n’t been round this here farm since ye come home, have ’ee?’ ‘No,’ said Richard; ‘but I know it well of old.’ ‘Ah, but there’s been improvement since ye left—there’s been a many improvements. Ye’d better take him round, Mrs. F., and show him all what’s been done the last few years. He be oncommon fond o’ stretching his legs—Richard be—and it’ll just suit him—won’t it, Richard?’ Richard stammered confusedly that he should like it of all things. ‘And you be a wonderful one for fresh air yourself, Mrs. F.,’ went on the diplomatist. ‘Jist take ’en out and show ’en everything, there’s a good soul.’ Rosalie had risen willingly enough, for she had found the previous constraint exceedingly uncomfortable; but she now paused hesitatingly. ‘Are n’t you coming, Mr. Sharpe?’ ‘Nay, my dear, I’ll stay where I be. ’T is very comfortable here i’ th’ chimney corner, and I bain’t so young as I was, d’ ye see? Nay, you two young folks can go out and freshen yourselves up a bit, and make acquaintance; and the wold man will bide at home, and smoke his pipe, and be ready for tea when you come back.’ He nodded at them both with an air of finality, and twisted round his chair so as to present to their gaze a large and inflexible back. ‘Well, then, we had better start if we are to be back by tea-time,’ said Rosalie, a little sharply; and Richard took up his hat, and followed her out in silence.