Despite this qualified approval, however, sloth prevailed over the promptings of hospitality and induced him to remain perdu in his comfortable corner, leaving his wife, who had been alone in the front room, to receive the stranger, and sustain the burden of making conversation. It threatened to be an uphill task, as Captain Falconer was manifestly embarrassed, and stammered nervously in explaining the reason of his visit. Happening to be in the neighbourhood, he said, he had ventured to call, as he had the pleasure of Miss Longfield’s acquaintance, and her mother had mentioned that she was at the Grange. He was staying in the village at the “ Ballyduff Arms ” —a delectable sojourn, Dr. Longfield thought, judging by the exterior of that grimy hostelry —having run down from Dublin in hopes of some shooting—no, he meant of some salmon-fishing.
“It’s getting rather late for that, is it not ? ” observed his hostess.
“Oh, yes, certainly ; quite too late,” he replied, with the exaggerated emphasis which people are prone to use when assenting to a proposition the terms of which they have distracted by the sound of a footstep just then approaching the door. It was Beta who entered, and neither she nor Captain Falconer could be congratulated on the success with which they dissembled, on the one hand dismay, and on the other disappointment. After a minute or two, she slipped into the back room, and, under cover of five o’clock teacups, which were clattering close by, whispered to her uncle her wishes that their visitor would speedily depart, ‘‘ For,” said she, “I have all manner of things to do to my pink grenadine ” —there was to be a dance at the Castle that night—“ and I wanted Aunt Louisa to help me. I think I might as well, at any rate, go and send Alpha down ; he’s her acquaintance, you know, not mine; and, besides that, I dare say he wouldn’t stay long if she came, for she generally won’t take the trouble to talk much to anybody.”
So saying, she stole noiselessly away, on these hospitable thoughts intent. But as she went out at one door, Alpha entered at the other.Despite this qualified approval, however, sloth prevailed over the promptings of hospitality and induced him to remain perdu in his comfortable corner, leaving his wife, who had been alone in the front room, to receive the stranger, and sustain the burden of making conversation. It threatened to be an uphill task, as Captain Falconer was manifestly embarrassed, and stammered nervously in explaining the reason of his visit. Happening to be in the neighbourhood, he said, he had ventured to call, as he had the pleasure of Miss Longfield’s acquaintance, and her mother had mentioned that she was at the Grange. He was staying in the village at the “ Ballyduff Arms ” —a delectable sojourn, Dr. Longfield thought, judging by the exterior of that grimy hostelry —having run down from Dublin in hopes of some shooting—no, he meant of some salmon-fishing.
“It’s getting rather late for that, is it not ? ” observed his hostess.
“Oh, yes, certainly ; quite too late,” he replied, with the exaggerated emphasis which people are prone to use when assenting to a proposition the terms of which they have distracted by the sound of a footstep just then approaching the door. It was Beta who entered, and neither she nor Captain Falconer could be congratulated on the success with which they dissembled, on the one hand dismay, and on the other disappointment. After a minute or two, she slipped into the back room, and, under cover of five o’clock teacups, which were clattering close by, whispered to her uncle her wishes that their visitor would speedily depart, ‘‘ For,” said she, “I have all manner of things to do to my pink grenadine ” —there was to be a dance at the Castle that night—“ and I wanted Aunt Louisa to help me. I think I might as well, at any rate, go and send Alpha down ; he’s her acquaintance, you know, not mine; and, besides that, I dare say he wouldn’t stay long if she came, for she generally won’t take the trouble to talk much to anybody.”
So saying, she stole noiselessly away, on these hospitable thoughts intent. But as she went out at one door, Alpha entered at the other.Despite this qualified approval, however, sloth prevailed over the promptings of hospitality and induced him to remain perdu in his comfortable corner, leaving his wife, who had been alone in the front room, to receive the stranger, and sustain the burden of making conversation. It threatened to be an uphill task, as Captain Falconer was manifestly embarrassed, and stammered nervously in explaining the reason of his visit. Happening to be in the neighbourhood, he said, he had ventured to call, as he had the pleasure of Miss Longfield’s acquaintance, and her mother had mentioned that she was at the Grange. He was staying in the village at the “ Ballyduff Arms ” —a delectable sojourn, Dr. Longfield thought, judging by the exterior of that grimy hostelry —having run down from Dublin in h...
Mac's Adventures
