She was an ardent lover of her country; and to talk of its advantages and disadvantages with an interested companion was to her a keen pleasure; the intense indifference of Mr.Percy's reply, therefore, made her regard him for a moment with anything but goodwill.

She gave Bob a sharp "flick" with her whip, and paused a minute before answering; when she did speak, it was with a little malice.
"I suppose you have not yet had time to call on Maurice Leigh?
I can take you there now if you like.

I often go to see old Mr.Leigh." "Thank you.

I saw young Leigh just now at William's office." "I am going to the Cottage then, that is, Mrs.Costello's." They were almost at the turning of the lane as she spoke, and directly after came in sight of the pretty low house, standing in a perfect nest of green.

They stopped at the gate; and Margery, a decent middle-aged woman, immediately came out to open it.