Part 9 (1/2)
”Stood what? The crossing or the teot a fine old crusted stock of the latter myself”
”You have,” assented Roden
”That's rude”
”Your own doing,” was the ready rejoinder ”You left h, Miss Ridsdale Wouldn't it be ruder still to contradict a lady?”
”Go on, you two hair-splitters!” laughed Grace ”Mr Musgrave, I've put you in the same room you had last time You know your way Supper will be ready directly”
”And you'd better turn on a fire in the sitting-room, Grace,” said Suffield ”The days are hot for July, in this high veldt, but the nights are nipping Besides, like a nigger, I' pipe beside, when one can invent the shadow of an excuse for lighting one It's , you know”
And so it was Seated there at the chi logs crackled brightly, and conversation flowed free and unrestrained, varied by a song or two from Mona, as also from Suffield, as no mean vocalist, and the prospect of some sport on the morrow, it occurred to Roden that life as at present constituted was a fairly enjoyable thing That illustrious, if out-of-the-world townshi+p, Doppersdorp, ht not have been precisely the locality he would have chosen as an abiding place; but even it contained co elements
CHAPTER EIGHT
CONCERNING THE CHASE
”Well, you two Sabbath-breakers!” was Grace Suffield's laughing greeting to her husband and guest on the following , as she joined the two on the _stoep_, where they were cleaning and oiling a rifle apiece preparatory to the day's doings ”So you're not to be persuaded into abandoning your wicked enterprise?”
”It's the only day a poor hard-worked Civil Servant has the whole of, Mrs Suffield,” answered Roden
”Oh yes! I daresay As if you couldn't have as many days as you chose to ask for But come in now Breakfast is ready”
They entered, and were ilu to be allowed to come too
”Not to-day, sonny; not to-day,” answered his father decisively ”You can go out any day; you're not a hard-worked Civil Servant Besides, we shall hardly get anything; we're only going just for the sake of the ride Where's Mona?” he added ”Late, as usual?”
”Oh yes We needn't wait for her”
Well that they did not, for breakfast was nearly over when she sailed in, bringing with her--surprise; for she was clad in a riding habit
”Hallo, young wo to ride into Doppersdorp to church?” sang out Suffield
”Not to-day, Charlie I'rave shoot a buck”
”Eh!” said Suffield, with a blank stare at Roden
”Oh, you needn't look so disappointed, or youwith you, and that's all about it,” said Mona, with nonchalant decision, beginning upon her tea
”Well, uponinto the very dev--er--Ithe _krantzes_ Who on earth is going to look after such a superfine young party as you?”
”Wait until soh and ugly enough to look afterfor the sake of the ride,” struck in the disappointed hopeful
”Uh Did you ever hear the saying, that srave, we'll go round and see about the horses” Under which somewhat cowardly expedient Suffield rose to effect a ti to ride, Miss Independence?”
he added, turning on the threshold