THE BRUSHWOOD BOY
"Oh, you won't see anything of her, Georgie. She 's busy with her music or her mother all day. Besides, you 're going up to town to-morrow, are n't you? I thought you said something about an Institute meeting?" The mother spoke.
"Go up to town now! What nonsense!" Once more the pater was shut off.
"I had some idea of it, but I 'm not quite sure," said the son of the house. Why did the mother try to get him away because a musical girl and her invalid parent were expected? He did not approve of unknown females calling his father pet names. He would observe these pushing persons who had been only seven years in the county.
All of which the delighted mother read in his countenance, herself keeping an air of sweet disinterestedness.
"They 'll be here this evening for dinner. I 'm sending the carriage over for them, and they won't stay more than a week."
"Perhaps I shall go up to town. I don't quite know yet." Georgie moved away irresolutely. There was a lecture at the United Services Institute on the supply of ammunition in the field, and the one man whose theories most irritated Major Cottar would deliver it. A heated discussion was sure to follow, and perhaps he might find himself moved to speak. He took his rod that afternoon and went down to thrash it out among the trout.
"Good sport, dear!" said the mother, from the terrace.
[417]
