“Well, my dears,” he said, kindly, as they went up to kiss him, “I hope nothing disagreeable has happened while I have been away.”

“No, uncle,” said Celia, “we have been to Freshitt to look at the cottages. We thought you would have been at home to lunch.”

“I came by Lowick to lunch⁠—you didn’t know I came by Lowick. And I have brought a couple of pamphlets for you, Dorothea⁠—in the library, you know; they lie on the table in the library.”