He suddenly knelt down and pulled the old man's arm round his shoulders.

"I say, I'm going to enjoy that trip," he said boyishly.

"Let's get away before the New Year!" Sir Beverley suffered the action with no further protest than a frown.
"You weren't so mighty anxious when I first suggested it," he grumbled.
Piers laughed.

"Can't a man change his mind?
I'm keen enough now." "What do you want to go for ?" Sir Beverley looked at him suspiciously.
But Piers' frank return of his look told him nothing.

"I love the South as you know," he said.
"Damn it, yes!" said Sir Beverley irritably.