’I wish it,’ answered the lad. ’I’ll tell you the reason after.’ ’You’d better not go out yet.’ ’Why not? Mr. Physick will drive me there and back in his gig. I shall not be shaken. The gig has springs.’ ’I reckon there’s a certain cottage the rogue will want to get out at on the way. Don’t let him, Mr. Physick, or he won’t be home for hours.’ Although the gig had springs Larry suffered in it, and was glad to descend with Mr. Physick at Langford. Taverner Langford had returned home but an hour before; he had been to the fair at Holsworthy, and thence had gone into Bideford about a contract for young bullocks. He had just finished his dinner of bread and cheese, washed down with water, when Mrs. Veale opened the parlour door, and without a word showed in Mr. Physick and Larry. Langford greeted the lawyer with a nod. ’Please to take a chair.’ He stared at Hillary with surprise, and said nothing to him. ’We’ve come to pay you the loan you called in,’ said Physick. ’Right,’ answered Taverner, ’I was expecting the money, though why?—grapes of thorns and figs of thistles is against nature as well as Scripture.’ Then he eyed his nephew furtively. He saw that he was looking pale and worn, that his arm was bandaged, and he was without a jacket. He saw that the lad moved stiffly when he walked. ’You may sit down,’ he said gruffly. Larry took the back of an armchair with his left hand and drew it to him, then slowly let himself down into it. All his movements, and the twitching of the muscles in his face, showed he was in pain. His uncle watched him and saw this, but he asked no questions. When the money had been counted, and the release handed over, and Physick had indulged in some desultory talk, and disparagement of water, which he saw that Taverner was drinking, he rose to leave. Langford was not in a conversationable mood, his dark brows were knit. Then Larry stood up, and came towards the table, against which he stayed himself with his hand. ’I beg your pardon, Uncle Taverner,’ he said in a voice somewhat tremulous, whilst colour came into and spotted his brow. ’I came here, though I thought you would not care to see me.’ ’I don’t mind when I see your back,’ interrupted Langford surlily, ’your father insulted me grossly.’ ’I have come, Uncle Taverner——’ ’Ah! I suppose your father has sent you. He wants to patch up the quarrel; you may go back and tell him it is too late. I won’t make it up. It is of no use. I have nothing to lose by estrangement. You and he are the losers, and that to a heavy amount, as you shall learn some day.’ ’I have not come with any message from my father.’ ’You’ve come for yourself, have you? You think that Langford would be a fine farm for the growth of wild oats? You shan’t try it.’