"But you are not ill, John? There is nothing wrong, I hope?"
"If things go a bit out of the common way, women always ask if they have gone wrong. I should think, they might as well go right."
"So they might. Here is some fresh cream, John. I saw after it myself; and the haver-cake is toasted, and--"
"Nay, but I'll have my drinking to-night, Maude. I have been flustered more than a little, I can tell thee that."
"Then you shall have your drinking. We tapped a fresh barrel of old ale an hour ago. It is that strong and fine as never was; by the time you get to your third pint, you will be ready to make faces at Goliath."
"Well, Maude, if making faces means making fight, there will be enough of that in every county of England soon,--if Dukes and Radical orators are to be believed."
"I have. He has offered me a seat in the next Parliament. He thinks there is a big fight before us."
"Parliament! And the Duke of Richmoor to seat you! Why, John, I am astonished!"
"I felt like I was dreaming. Now then, where is Kate? I want to tell the little maid about it. It will be a grand thing for Kate. She will have some chances in London, and I'll warrant she is Yorkshire enough to take the best of them."
"Kate was at Dashwood's all the afternoon; and they were riding races; and she came home tired to death. I tucked her up in her bed an hour ago."
"I am a bit disappointed; but things are mostly ordered that way. There is something else to tell you, Maude. I saw a stranger on the green throw Bill Verity and Adam Sedbergh; and I could not stand such nonsense as that, so I off with my coat and settled him."
"You promised me that you would not 'stand up' any more, John. Some of them youngsters will give you a 'throw' that you won't get easy over. And you out of practice too."
"Out of practice! Nothing of the sort. What do you think I do with myself on wet afternoons? What could I do with myself, but go to the granary and have an hour or two's play with Verity and Sedbergh, or any other of the lads that care to feel my grip? I have something else to tell you, Maude. I had a talk with this strange lad. He began some Reform nonsense; and I settled him very cleverly."
"Poor lad!" She spoke sadly and absently, and it nettled the Squire. "I know what you are thinking, Mistress," he said; "but the time has come when we are bound to stick to our own side."