He filled his own plate, then, as he drank a spoonful, Hermia begged him,
“Please go on, Papa. We must know what happened!”
“Yes, of course,” the Vicar replied. “Well, it appears that immediately after luncheon at The Hall my brother had arranged to take the Marquis to see his yearlings which he has in a field on the North side of the Park.”
Hermia knew where this was, but she did not interrupt as her father went on,
“The two gentlemen were apparently not hurrying themselves, but talking as they rode when a groom came galloping after them to say that a visitor had arrived at The Hall asking to see the Earl urgently and saying that he could not wait.”
The Vicar paused and took another spoonful of soup before he continued,
“My brother was obviously annoyed at having to go back, but, as
