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He came up regularly from Chigbourne to inspect him, generally with literary advice and the latest scandal about his detested neighbour, which he thought might be 'worked up into something. He had discovered the Row as an afternoon lounge where his nephew ought to show himself 'among the swells, and he insisted, in spite of all Mark's attempts at evasion, in walking him about there.
But there was no time to think of this; at the other end of the carriage was the little round wicker-basket he had seen in Dolly's hands at the Chigbourne waiting-room, and in it was the terrier, sleeping soundly as she had anticipated.
It was not a very long journey from Chigbourne to the terminus, but, as will be seen hereafter, it was destined to be a land mark in the lives of both Mark and Mabel, though the meeting he looked forward to at the end of it never took place. Mark was roused from his reverie in the railway carriage by the fact that the train, after slackening speed rather suddenly, had come to a dead standstill.
I'll see you started at the Bar; I came this very evening to 'ave a talk with you on that. But what do you want to go and lower yourself by literature for? There's a littery man down at our place, a poor feller that writes for the "Chigbourne and Lamford Gazette," and gets my gardener to let him take the measure of my gooseberries; he's got a hat on him my scarecrow wouldn't be seen in.
Somebody had told the young man of this, and, as he was from Cambridge too, but had never been placed anywhere except in one or two walking races at Fenner's, it had damped him too much for conversation just yet. 'Have you been down to Chigbourne lately? Mabel asked Mark suddenly, and her smile and manner showed him that she remembered their first meeting.
'I thought I should enjoy my dinner more if I dined out, said Mark. 'Well, and what's the end of it all, Trixie? 'I'm sure I don't know what it will be. Uncle Solomon actually wanted me to come and live with him at Chigbourne, and said he would make it worth my while in the end, if I would promise not to have anything more to do with you.
And, talking of nephews, Mabel, I wonder if you came across a letter I wrote to the "Chigbourne and Lamford Gazette," a week or so back I meant to send you a copy, but I forgot I forgot. 'No, said Mabel, unable to make anything of this extraordinary mildness, 'I didn't see it. 'Didn't you now? he rejoined complacently, 'and yet it got copied into some of the London papers, too, I was told.
He had gone down to 'The Woodbines, his uncle's villa at Chigbourne, in pursuance of the invitation given him; and Mr.
'What was the commission, Harold? asked Mabel. 'Oh, ah! I met my uncle to-day, and he told me to find out if you would be able to run down to Chigbourne one Saturday till Monday soon. I suppose you won't. He's a dear old boy, but he's rather a dull old pump to stay two whole days with. 'You forget he's Dolly's godfather, said Mabel.