CHAPTER XXXV

SIR LOUIS GOES OUT TO DINNER

The next day Joe did not make his appearance, and Sir Louis with many execrations, was driven to the terrible necessity of dressing himself.  Then came an unexpected difficulty:  how were they to get up to the house?  Walking out to dinner, though it was merely through the village and up the avenue seemed to Sir Louis to be a thing impossible.  Indeed, he was not well able to walk at all, and positively declared that he should never be able to make his way over the gravel in pumps.  His mother would not have thought half as much of walking from Boxall Hill to Greshamsbury and back again.  At last, the one village fly was sent for, and the matter was arranged.

When they reached the house, it was easy to see that there was some unwonted bustle.  In the drawing-room there was no one but Mr Mortimer Gazebee, who introduced himself to them both.  Sir Louis, who knew that he was only an attorney, did not take much notice of him, but the doctor entered into conversation.

‘Have you not heard that Mr Gresham has come home?’

‘Mr Gresham!  I did not know that he had been away.’

‘Mr Gresham, junior, I mean.’  No, indeed; the doctor had not heard.  Frank had returned unexpectedly, just before dinner, and was now undergoing his father’s smiles, his mother’s embraces, and his sisters’ questions.

‘Quite unexpectedly,’ said Mr Gazebee.  ’I don’t know what has brought him back before his time.  I suppose he found London too hot.’

‘Deuced hot,’ said the baronet.  ’I found it so, at least.  I don’t know what keeps men in London when it’s so hot; except those fellows who have business to do:  they’re paid for it.’

Mr Mortimer Gazebee looked at him.  He was managing an estate which owed Sir Louis an enormous sum of money, and, therefore, he could not afford to despise the baronet; but he thought to himself, what a very abject fellow the man would be if he were not a baronet, and had not a large fortune!

And the squire came in.  His broad, honest face was covered with a smile when he saw the doctor.

‘Thorne,’ said he, almost in a whisper, ’you’re the best fellow breathing; I have hardly deserved this.’  The doctor, as he took his old friend’s hand, could not but be glad that he had followed Mary’s counsel.

‘So Frank has come home?’

’Oh, yes; quite unexpectedly.  He was to have stayed a week longer in London.  You would hardly know him if you met him.  Sir Louis, I beg your pardon.’  And the squire went up to his other guest, who had remained somewhat sullenly standing in one corner of the room.  He was the man of highest rank present, or to be present, and he expected to be treated as such.

’I am happy to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance, Mr Gresham,’ said the baronet, intending to be very courteous.  ’Though we have not met before, I very often see your name in my accounts—­ha! ha! ha!’ and Sir Louis laughed as though he had said something very good.