MRS. H. You'd much better let Dawker make sure, Jack. HILLCRIST. [Uncomfortable] Jackman says Hornblower's coming round to see me. I shall put it to him. DAWKER. Make him keener than ever. Better get in first. HILLCRIST. Ape his methods!--Ugh! Confound this gout! [He gets back to his chair with difficulty] Look here, Dawker, I wanted to see you about gates---- FELLOWS. [Entering] Mr. Hornblower. [HORNBLOWER enters-a man of medium, height, thoroughly broadened, blown out, as it were, by success. He has thick, coarse, dark hair, just grizzled, wry bushy eyebrow, a wide mouth. He wears quite ordinary clothes, as if that department were in charge of someone who knew about such, things. He has a small rose in his buttonhole, and carries a Homburg hat, which one suspects will look too small on his head.] HORNBLOWER. Good morning! good morning! How are ye, Dawker? Fine morning! Lovely weather! [His voice has a curious blend in its tone of brass and oil, and an accent not quite Scotch nor quite North country.] Haven't seen ye for a long time, Hillcrist. HILLCRIST. [Who has risen] Not since I sold you Longmeadow and those cottages, I believe. HORNBLOWER. Dear me, now! that's what I came about. HILLCRIST. [Subsiding again into his chair] Forgive me! Won't you sit down? HORNBLOWER. [Not sitting] Have ye got gout? That's unfortunate. I never get it. I've no disposition that way. Had no ancestors, you see. Just me own drinkin' to answer for. HILLCRIST. You're lucky. HORNBLOWER. I wonder if Mrs. Hillcrist thinks that! Am I lucky to have no past, ma'am? Just the future? MRS. H. You're sure you have the future, Mr. Hornblower? HORNBLOWER. [With a laugh] That's your aristocratic rapier thrust. You aristocrats are very hard people underneath your manners. Ye love to lay a body out. But I've got the future all right. HILLCRIST. [Meaningly] I've had the Dackmans here, Mr. Hornblower. HORNBLOWER. Who are they--man with the little spitfire wife? HILLCRIST. They're very excellent, good people, and they've been in that cottage quietly thirty years. HORNBLOWER. [Throwing out his forefinger--a favourite gesture] Ah! ye've wanted me to stir ye up a bit. Deepwater needs a bit o' go put into it. There's generally some go where I am. I daresay you wish there'd been no "come." [He laughs]. MRS. H. We certainly like people to keep their word, Mr. Hornblower. HILLCRIST. Amy! HORNBLOWER. Never mind, Hillcrist; takes more than that to upset me. [MRS. HILLCRIST exchanges a look with DAWKER who slips out unobserved.] HILLCRIST. You promised me, you know, not to change the tenancies. HORNBLOWER. Well, I've come to tell ye that I have. I wasn't expecting to have the need when I bought. Thought the Duke would sell me a bit down there; but devil a bit he will; and now I must have those cottages for my workmen. I've got important works, ye know.