"It is always the way," he muttered. "It is enough to vex any man. Women are sure to be out of the road when they are wanted; and in the road when nobody cares to see them. Wherever has Maude taken herself?" Then he opened a door and called "Maude! Maude!" in no gentle voice. [Illustration:] In a few minutes the call was answered. Mrs. Atheling came hurriedly into the room. There was a pleasant smile on her large, handsome face, and she carried in her hands a bowl of cream and a loaf of white bread. "Why, John!" she exclaimed, "whatever is to do? I was getting a bit of supper for you. You are late home to-night, aren't you?" "I should think I was--all of an hour-and-a-half late." "But you are not ill, John? There is nothing wrong, I hope?" "If things go a bit out of the common way, women always ask if they have gone wrong. I should think, they might as well go right." "So they might. Here is some fresh cream, John. I saw after it myself; and the haver-cake is toasted, and--" "Nay, but I'll have my drinking to-night, Maude. I have been flustered more than a little, I can tell thee that." "Then you shall have your drinking. We tapped a fresh barrel of old ale an hour ago. It is that strong and fine as never was; by the time you get to your third pint, you will be ready to make faces at Goliath." "Well, Maude, if making faces means making fight, there will be enough of that in every county of England soon,--if Dukes and Radical orators are to be believed." "Have you seen the Duke to-night?" "I have. He has offered me a seat in the next Parliament. He thinks there is a big fight before us." "Parliament! And the Duke of Richmoor to seat you! Why, John, I am astonished!" "I felt like I was dreaming. Now then, where is Kate? I want to tell the little maid about it. It will be a grand thing for Kate. She will have some chances in London, and I'll warrant she is Yorkshire enough to take the best of them." "Kate was at Dashwood's all the afternoon; and they were riding races; and she came home tired to death. I tucked her up in her bed an hour ago." "I am a bit disappointed; but things are mostly ordered that way. There is something else to tell you, Maude. I saw a stranger on the green throw Bill Verity and Adam Sedbergh; and I could not stand such nonsense as that, so I off with my coat and settled him." "You promised me that you would not 'stand up' any more, John. Some of them youngsters will give you a 'throw' that you won't get easy over. And you out of practice too." "Out of practice! Nothing of the sort. What do you think I do with myself on wet afternoons? What could I do with myself, but go to the granary and have an hour or two's play with Verity and Sedbergh, or any other of the lads that care to feel my grip? I have something else to tell you, Maude. I had a talk with this strange lad. He began some Reform nonsense; and I settled him very cleverly."