But Vane went at once to the kitchen with the intention of making some
business-like measurements of the opening about the range, and to see
where a boiler could best be placed. A glance within was sufficient.
Martha was busy about the very spot; and Vane turned back, making up his
mind to defer his visit till midnight, when the place would be solitary,
and the fire out.
There was the greenhouse, though; and, fetching a rule, he went in
there, and began measuring the walls once more, to arrive at the exact
length of piping required, when he became conscious of a shadow cast
from the open door; and, looking up, there stood Bruff, with a grin upon
his face--a look so provocative that Vane turned upon him fiercely.
"Well, what are you laughing at?" he cried.
"You, Mester."
"Why?"
"I was thinking as you ought to hev been a bricklayer or carpenter, sir,
instead of a scollard, and going up to rectory. Measuring for that
there noo-fangle notion of yours?"
"Yes, I am," cried Vane; "and what then?"
"Oh, nowt, sir, nowt, only it wean't do. Only throwing away money."
"How do you know, Bruff?"
"How do I know, sir? Why, arn't I been a gardener ever since I was born
amost, seeing as my father and granfa' was gardeners afore me. You tak'
my advice, sir, as one as knows. There's only two ways o' heating
places, and one's wi' a proper fireplace an' a flue, and t'other's
varmentin wi' hot manner."
"Varmentin with hot manner, as you call it. Why, don't they heat the
vineries at Tremby Court with hot-water?"
"I've heered you say so, sir, but I niver see it. Tak' my advice, sir,
and don't you meddle with things as you don't understand. Remember them
taters?"
"Oh, yes, I remember the potatoes, Bruff; and I daresay, if the truth
was known, you cut all the eyes out, instead of leaving the strongest,
as I told you."
"I don't want no one to teach me my trade," said the man, sulkily; and
he shuffled away, leaving Vane wondering why he took so much trouble,
only to meet with rebuffs from nearly everyone.
"I might just as well be fishing, or playing cricket, or lying on my
back in the sun, like old Distin does. Nobody seems to understand me."
He was standing just inside the door, moodily tapping the side-post with
the rule, when he was startled by a step on the gravel, and, looking up
sharply, he found himself face to face with a little, keen, dark,
well-dressed man, who had entered the gate, seen him standing in the
greenhouse, and walked across the lawn, whose mossy grass had silenced
his footsteps till he reached the path.
"Morning," he said. "Doctor at home?"
"Yes," replied Vane, looking at the stranger searchingly, and wondering
whether he was a visitor whom his uncle would be glad to see.