To this 'Bias made no response, but continued to stare thoughtfully at
Mrs Bosenna's kine.
"After all," pursued Cai cheerfully, "these little interests are the
salt of a leisurable man's life. I dare say, f'r instance, as Philp
gets quite an amount o' fun out o' funerals, though to me it seems a
queer taste. Every man to his hobby; and yours, now, I can understand.
When you've finished potterin' around the garden, weedin' an' plantin',
--an', by the way, the season for plantin' isn't far off. It's about
time we looked up those autumn catalogues we talked so much about back
in the spring."
"True," said 'Bias. "It has slipped my mind of late. An' you not
mentionin' either--"
"Somehow it had slipped mine too. . . . All that Regatta business, I
suppose. . . . And now, if I am to take up with this School Board
there'll be more calls on my time. But there! If I turn over both the
gardens to you, I reckon you won't object. 'Twill be so much the more
occupation,--not o' course," added Cai, "that I want to shirk doin' my
share. But, as I was sayin', when you've done your day's job at the
garden, an' taken your stroll down to the quay to pick up the evenin'
gossip, what healthier wind-up can there be than to stretch your legs on
a walk to one of the two-three farms in the parish, an' note how the
crops are comin' on, an' the beef an' mutton, so to speak, an' how the
cows are in milk; an' maybe drop in for tea an' a chat?--here at Rilla,
f'r instance, where you'll always be sure of a welcome."
"You're sure o' that?" asked 'Bias. The words came slowly, heavily
charged with meaning.
"Why, o' course you will! . . . 'Twas your own suggestion, mind you.
'Takin' an' interest in agriculture' was your words. I don't promise,
o' course, that you'll make much of it, first along. Learnin's half the
fun--"
But here Mrs Bosenna's voice called to them, and they turned together
almost guiltily to see her climbing the slope above the mow-hay, with
springy gait and cheeks charmingly flushed by recent caresses of the
kitchen-fire.
"If you care for it," she greeted them, "there's just time for a stroll
to Higher Parc and back while Dinah lays tea. A breath of fresh air
will do me all the good in the world"--little she looked to be in need
of it--"and I don't suppose either of you knows what a glorious view
you'll get up there? All the harbour and shipping at your feet, and
miles of open Channel beyond! My poor dear Robert used to say there
wasn't its equal in Cornwall."
Cai could assure her in all innocence that he had never heard tell of
Higher Parc and its famous view; nor did it occur to him to turn and
interrogate his friend, who was flushing guiltily.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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