Mr.Cooper had been enough in the neighbourhood to have known the old squire, and wrote an affectionate note expressing his gratification at the prospect of renewing his acquaintance with the little boy whom he remembered.

So the party was made up for Monday.
John Morton was very nervous on the matter, fearing that Lady Augustus would think the land to be barren.
The Friday passed by without much difficulty.

The Senator was driven about, and everything was inquired into.

One or two farm-houses were visited, and the farmers' wives were much disturbed by the questions asked them.

"I don't think they'd get a living in the States," was the Senator's remark after leaving one of the homesteads in which neither the farmer nor his wife had shown much power of conversation.
"Then they're right to stay where they are," replied Mr.Morton, who in spite of his diplomacy could not save himself from being nettled.
"They seem to get a very good living here, and they pay their rent punctually." On the Saturday morning the hounds met at the "Old Kennels," as the meet was always called, and here was an excellent opportunity of showing to Mr.Gotobed one of the great institutions of the country.
It was close to the house and therefore could be reached without any trouble, and as it was held on Morton's own ground, he could do more towards making his visitor understand the thing than might have been possible elsewhere.