“Oh, but I do, and they’re delicious, Nell: half like a little girl and half like a queen: but it will never do to make the Jew feel small in her own set. Hallo! there’s some one tumbling alone over the stones on that precious road of yours. I believe it’s that cart from the station after all.” “No,” said Elinor, “it is only one of the tradespeople. You certainly are anxious about those carts from the station, Phil.” “Not a bit!” he said, and then, after a moment, he added, “Yes, on the whole, I’d much rather the man came, if he’s coming while I’m here, and while you are with me, Nell; for I want you to stick to me, and back me up. They might think I ought to go after that manager fellow and spoil the wedding. Therefore mind you back me up.” “I can’t think, dear Phil, what there is for me to do. I know nothing about the business nor what has happened. You never told me anything, and how can I back you up about things I don’t know?” “Oh, yes, you can,” he said, “you’ll soon see if the fellow comes; just you stand by me, whatever I say. You mayn’t know--or even I may seem to make a mistake; but you know me if you don’t know the circumstances, and I hope you can trust me, Nell, that it will be all right.” “But----” said Elinor, confused. “Don’t go on with your buts; there’s a darling, don’t contradict me. There is nothing looks so silly to strangers as a woman contradicting every word a fellow says. I only want you to stand by me, don’t you know, that’s all; and I’ll tell you everything about it after, when there’s time.” “Tell me about it now,” said Elinor; “you may be sure I shall be interested; there’s plenty of time now.” “Talk about business to you! when I’ve only a single day, and not half time enough, you little duck, to tell you what a darling you are, and how I count every hour till I can have you all to myself. Ah, Nell, Nell, if that day were only here----” And then Phil turned to those subjects and those methods which cast so much confusion into the mind of Mrs. Dennistoun, when practised under her sedate and middle-aged eyes. But Elinor, as has been said, did not take exactly the same view. Presently they went to luncheon, and Phil secured himself a place at table commanding the road. “I never knew before how jolly it was,” he said, “though everything is jolly here. And that peep of the road must give you warning when any invasion is coming.” “It is too far off for that,” said Mrs. Dennistoun. “Oh, no, not for sharp eyes. Nell there told me who several people were--those white horses--the people at--where did you say, Nell?” “Reddown, mamma--the Philistines, as you call them, that are always dashing about the country--_nouveaux riches_, with the finest horses in the county.”