“If you don’t want to see him, he wants to see you.  There are some cottages on the farm that must be put into repair at once.  As for interfering in your business, I don’t know how you can talk like that; were it not for me the whole place would be falling to pieces.”

“Quite true; I know you save me a great deal of expense; but really ...”

“Really what?  You won’t go out to walk with Kitty Hare?”

“I did not say I wouldn’t, but I must say that I am very busy just now.  I had thought of doing a little reading, for I have an appointment with my solicitor in the afternoon.”

“That man charges you L200 a-year for collecting the rents; now, if you were to do it yourself, you would save the money, and it would give you something to do.”

“Something to do!  I have too much to do as it is....  But if I am going out with Kitty....  Where is she?”

“I saw her go into the library a moment ago.”

And as it was preferable to go for a walk with Kitty than to continue the interview with his mother, John seized his hat and called Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!  Presently she appeared, and they walked towards the garden, talking.  She told him she had been at Thornby Place the whole time the greenhouse was being built, and when they opened the door they were greeted by Sammy.  He sprang instantly on her shoulder.

“This is my cat,” she said.  “I’ve fed him since he was a little kitten; isn’t he sweet?”

The girl was beautiful on the brilliant flower background; she stroked the great caressing creature, and when she put him down he mewed reproachfully.  Further on her two tame rooks cawed joyously, and alighted on her shoulder.

“I wonder they don’t fly away, and join the others in the trees.”

“One did go away, and he came back nearly dead with hunger.  But he is all right now, aren’t you, dear?” And the bird cawed, and rubbed its black head against its mistress’ cheek.  “Poor little things, they fell out of the nest before they could fly, and I brought them up.  But you don’t care for pets, do you, John?”

“I don’t like birds!”

“Don’t like birds!  Why, that seems as strange as if you said that you didn’t like flowers.”

“Mrs Norton told me, sir, that you would like to speak to me about them cottages on the Erringham Farm,” said the bailiff.

“Yes, yes, I must go over and see them to-morrow morning at ten o’clock.  I intend to go thoroughly into everything.  How are they getting on with the cottages that were burnt down?”

“Rather slow, sir, the weather is so bad.”

“But talking of fire, Burnes, I find that I can insure at a much cheaper rate at Lloyds’ than at most of the offices.  I find that I shall make a saving of L20 a-year.”

“That’s worth thinking about, sir.”

While the young squire talked to his bailiff Kitty fed her rooks.  They cawed, and flew to her hand for the scraps of meat.  The coachman came to speak about oats and straw.  They went to the stables.  Kitty adored horses, it amused John to see her pat them, and her vivacity and light-heartedness rather pleased him than otherwise.