The latter's father and mother were both in the house, an unusual thing at that time of day with the former, but he had said at breakfast to his son: "You must look after things by yourself today, lad.

The Squire said yesterday that he would come over sometime, and I would not be out when he came, not for a twenty pound note." He and his wife came to the door when they saw Frank coming across the field towards the house.
"Well, Lechmere," the latter said, when he came up.

"I am glad to see you and your dame looking so well and hearty.

I had not time to say more than a word to you yesterday, and I wanted to have a comfortable talk with you both.

I wrote you a line telling you how gallantly George had behaved, and how he had saved my life; but I had to write the day afterwards, and my head was still ringing from the sabre cut that had for a time knocked all the sense out of me, and therefore I had to cut it very short.