But that battle, in which, of course,
Crabbe was Bullock's adviser, and did all he could to annoy us, was a
matter of many months, and did not affect our life very closely.
Harold was in effect Eustace's agent, and being a very good
accountant, as well as having the confidence of the tenants, all was
put in good train in that quarter, and Mr. Alison was in the way to
be respected as an excellent landlord and improver. People were
calling on us, and we were evidently being taken into our proper
place. Lady Diana no longer withheld her countenance, and though she
only called on me in state she allowed Viola to write plenty of notes
to me.
But I must go on to that day when Harold and Eustace were to have a
hunting day with the Foling hounds, and dine afterwards with some of
the members of the hunt at the Fox Hotel at Foling, a favourite meet.
They were to sleep at Biston, and I saw nothing of them the next day
till Eustace came home alone, only just in time for a late dinner,
and growled out rather crossly that Harold had chosen to walk home,
and not to be waited for. Eustace himself was out of sorts and
tired, eating little and hardly vouchsafing a word, except to grumble
at us and the food, and though we heard Harold come in about nine
o'clock, he did not come in, but went up to his room.
Eustace was himself again the next morning, but Harold was gone out.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208