“Oh, I retain my old place; but it is a long way off, and best for the autumn, when we can flit altogether. My wife is fond of the Hewan, though it is so small; and we thought it would be handy to run out for a day, now and then. In short, it suits us. Does this little fellow, Lord Eskside, belong to the place? or is he a visitor? He seems to have struck up a sudden friendship with my little girl.” “A visitor!” said Lord Eskside. “Do you mean to say you have not heard--do you see no likeness in him? This is my grandson, Pringle--my successor one day, I hope--Richard’s eldest son.” “Richard’s son!--you are joking,” said Mr Pringle, growing pale, but with a smile that hurt him,--“you are joking, Lord Eskside; a child of that complexion Richard’s son!” Lord Eskside felt that his adversary had hit the blot--and, to tell the truth, he himself had never perceived Val’s resemblance to Richard. “Colouring is not everything,” he said; “I suppose he has his complexion from his mother:” then with a return blow,--“but I cannot expect you to be very much delighted with the sight of him, Pringle; he takes the wind out of your sails--yours and your boys’.” “I hope my boys will be able to manage for themselves,” said Pringle, with a forced laugh. “If I say that I don’t see the resemblance, it is for no such reason. I have never hungered for other folk’s rights: but that is one thing and justice is another. Vi, my dear, we must go.” “What! won’t you come and see my lady? She will be affronted if you pass so near without calling; and you see,” said the old lord, with an effort at cordiality, “the children have made friends already. Come and have some dinner, man, before you go home. You know me of old. My bark is waur than my bite--I meant no harm.” “Oh, there is no offence,” said the heir-at-law; “but it’s getting late for a delicate child, and our gig is waiting at the Woodgate. Violet, you must bid the little man good-bye.” “He is not a naughty boy, papa, as you said--he is a nice boy,” said Vi, looking up with an appeal in her eyes; “please, I should like to stay.” “And what made you think he was naughty, my bonnie little girl?” said Lord Eskside, in insinuating tones.