"Caradoc," he called, "I want to speak to you."
Cardo cast an involuntary glance of astonishment at Gwynne Ellis as he
rose from the table and put his pipe back on its bracket.
"I think I shall go to bed," said Ellis, leaning back with a yawn and a
stretch. "I have been on my legs all day, and a jolly day it has been!"
The Vicar was standing at the study door holding it a little ajar; he
opened it wide for his son's entrance, and closed it carefully before
he seated himself in his usual place by the writing-table.
"Shall I light your candles, father?"
"Yes--one will do."
And, while Cardo busied himself with the candle and matches, and drew
down the blinds, his father fumbled amongst his papers and coughed
awkwardly.
"Sit down, Cardo. I have something to say to you which I have been
wanting to say for some time, and which I hope will give you pleasure."
Cardo said nothing, his attention being rivetted upon his father's
countenance; the marble face seemed whiter than usual, the deep shadows
round the eyes darker and--was it fancy?--or were the lips whiter?
"What is it, father?" said Cardo, at last pitying the old man's evident
nervousness; "no bad news, I hope?"
"Bad news!" said the Vicar, with a forced smile, which disclosed a row
of large and rather yellow teeth. "Didn't I say I hoped it would
please you?"
"Yes, I forgot, sir."
"Well, it is this: you live a very quiet, monotonous life here, and
though it has many advantages, perhaps to a young man it would also
appear to have many drawbacks. You have lately had Mr. Gwynne Ellis's
company, which I am glad to see you have thoroughly appreciated. I
should have been annoyed, had it been otherwise, considering that it
was not without some change of my usual domestic ways that I was able
to arrange this little matter for you. I own I should not like you to
imbibe all his ideas, which I consider very loose and unconstitutional;
but on the whole, I have liked the young man, and shall be sorry when
he leaves, more particularly as he pays well."
Cardo winced. "I am very happy working on the farm, and if I have
appeared discontented, my looks have belied me."
"No, no," said his father, tapping with his finger on the open page
before him. "No! you seem to have a fund of animal spirits; but I am
quite aware that your life is uneventful and dull, and I think a young
man of your er--er--" (he was going to say "prospects," but thought
that would not be politic), "well, a young man of your position should
see a little of the world."
"My position is that of a farmer, sir, and few farmers can afford to
travel about and see the world."