Young Pitcher is my laundress's son to the use of whose services I have been promoted since I have been known to be the heir of Tretton." Then they sat down and dined, and Augustus Scarborough made himself agreeable.

The small dinner was excellent of its kind, and the wine was all that it ought to be.

During dinner not a word was said as to Mountjoy, nor as to the affairs of the estate.

Augustus, who was old for his age, and had already practised himself much in London life, knew well how to make himself agreeable.

There was plenty to be said while young Pitcher was passing in and out of the room, so that there appeared no awkward vacancies of silence while one course succeeded the other.
The weather was very hot, the grouse were very tempting, everybody was very dull, and members of Parliament more stupid than anybody else; but a good time was coming.