“What you must think of me!” he burst out “My God, when I realise———”
“I know. Believe me, Dick, I know just what you must have felt. But pray forget it! It’s over now, and buried.”
There was another long silence. Lord John withdrew his hand at last, and perched on the edge of the table, smiling across at Richard.
“I’d well-nigh forgot that you were a middle-aged papa! A son?”
“Ay—John—after you.”
“I protest I am flattered. Lord, to think of you with a boy of your own!” He laughed, twirling his eyeglass.
At last Richard smiled.
“To think of you an uncle!” he retorted, and suddenly all vestige of stiffness had fled.
*****
Next morning Richard went on to Wyncham, and Diana, Jack and O’Hara travelled back to Sussex. Jack would not go home yet. He protested that he was going to be married first, and would then bring home his Countess. But he had several instructions to give his brother concerning the preparation of his house. The last thing he requested Richard to do was to seek out a certain city merchant, Fudby by name, and to rescue a clerk, Chilter, from him, bearing him off to Wyncham. All this he called from the coach window, just before they set off.
Richard led Jenny, whom he was to ride home, up to^the door of the vehicle, and expostulated.
“But what in thunder am I to do with the man?”
“Give him to Warburton,” advised Jack flippantly. “I know he needs a clerk—he always did!”
“But perhaps he will not desire to come———”
“You do as I tell you!” laughed his brother. “I shall expect to find him at Wyncham when I arrive! Au revoir!” He drew his head in, and the coach rumbled off.
