His mother was surprised: what had completely changed his manner in a
couple of minutes?
"How are you, Mrs. Rosewarne?" he cried in his off-hand fashion. "You
oughtn't to be in-doors on such a morning, or we shall never get you
well, you know; and the doctor will be sending you to Penzance or
Devonport for a change. Well, Mabyn, have you convinced anybody yet
that your farm-laborers with their twelve shillings a week are better
off than the slate-workers with their eighteen? You'd better take your
sister's opinion on that point, and don't squabble with me. Mother,
what's the use of sitting here? You bring Miss Wenna with you into the
wagonette, and talk to her there about all your business-affairs, and
I'll take you for a drive. Come along. And of course I want
somebody with me: will you come, Mrs. Rosewarne, or will Mabyn? You
can't?--then Mabyn must. Go along, Mabyn, and put your best hat on,
and make yourself uncommonly smart, and you shall be allowed to sit
next the driver--that's me."
And indeed he bundled the whole of them about until they were seated
in the wagonette just as he had indicated; and away they went from the
inn-door.
"And you think you are coming back in half an hour?" he said to his
companion, who was much pleased and very proud to occupy such a place.
"Oh no, you're not. You're a young and simple thing, Mabyn. These two
behind us will go on talking now for any time about yards of calico
and crochet-needles and twopenny subscriptions, while you and I, don't
you see, are quietly driving them over to Tintagel--"
"Oh, Mr.
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