"Here they are! Welcome home," exclaimed this lady, as her son and his friend at length made their appearance;--"Welcome home--we are all famishing; and I don't know why in the world we waited for you, for I am sure you don't deserve it. What success? What success, Mr. Rossitur?"
"'Faith ma'am, there's little enough to boast of, as far as I am concerned. Mr. Carleton may speak for himself."
"I am very sorry, ma'am, you waited for me," said that gentleman. "I am a delinquent I acknowledge. The day came to an end before I was at all aware of it."
"It would not do to flatter you so far as to tell you why we waited," said Mrs. Evelyn's soft voice. And then perceiving that the gentleman at whom she was looking gave her no answer she turned to the other. "How many woodcock, Mr. Rossitur?"
"Nothing to shew, ma'am," he replied. "Didn't see a solitary one. I heard some partridges, but I didn't mean to have room in my bag for them."
"Did you find the right ground, Rossitur?"
"I had a confounded long tramp after it if I didn't," said the discomfited sportsman, who did not seem to have yet recovered his good humour.
"Were you not together?" said Mrs. Carleton. "Where were you, Guy?"
"Following the sport another way, ma'am; I had very good success too."
"What's the total?" said Mr. Evelyn. "How much game did you bag?"