"Yes, my boy, I do; and it is very unseemly, to my way of thinking, for you to be speaking of him as `that fellow' or `the fellow.' If your chosen son-in-law were one half as much of a gentleman in his conduct I should feel a great deal more happy over this match." Sir John's face flushed of a deeper red, and it looked as if fierce words would ensue between the brothers; but as much ire as could dwell in Sir John's genial spirit had been used up in the encounter with Alleyne, and it required many hours for the reserve to be refilled. Hence, then, he bore in silence several rather plain remarks uttered by his brother, and walked back to the park, where they encountered Rolph coming rapidly down the long drive. "Seems in a hurry to hear our news," said Sir John. "Pshaw!" ejaculated the major; "he has not seen us. He is training for something or another." "Nonsense, Jem. How spitefully you speak. He is coming to meet us, I tell you." Sir John's words did not carry conviction with them, for it was strange that if the captain were coming to meet them, he should be running in a very peculiar manner, with his fists clenched and his eyes bent upon the ground; and, in fact, as he reached something white, which proved to be a pocket handkerchief tied to a cane stuck in the ground, he turned suddenly, and ran off in the opposite direction. "Humph!" grumbled Sir John; "it does look as if he were having a run." "Very much," said the major, "five hundred yards run along the carriage drive. What is he training for now?" "Tchah!" ejaculated Sir John; "don't ask me. Here, hi! Rob! Hang the fellow: is he deaf?" Rolph seemed to be. He ran, growing more distant every moment, while, as Sir John trudged on, he was evidently fretting and fuming, the more, too, that the major seemed to be in a malicious spirit, and to enjoy worrying him about his choice. "Poor fellow!" he said; "he is overdone with impatience to hear the result of your visit, and can only keep down his excitement by running hard." "Look here, Jem, if you want to quarrel, say so, and I'll take another path to the house, for I'm not in the humour to have words." "I am," said the major, "a good many. I feel as if there is nothing that would agree with me better than a deuced good quarrel with somebody." "Then hang it, man, why didn't you quarrel with Alleyne--take your niece's part?" "Alleyne is not a man I could quarrel with," said the major sharply. "There, I'll go and have a few words with Rolph about the cool way in which he takes a quarrel that you look upon as almost vital." "No, no, for goodness sake don't do anything of the kind," cried Sir John sharply, and he caught his brother by the shoulder. "My dear Jem, don't be absurd."