failed to prevent his discovering in the eyes behind them a shy
reflexion of his irony. "Oh Brookenham! You must tell me all about
Brookenham."

"I see that's not what you mean."

Mr. Longdon forbore to deny it. "I wonder if you'll understand what I
mean." Vanderbank bristled with the wish to be put to the test, but was
checked before he could say so. "And what's HIS place--Brookenham's?"

"Oh Rivers and Lakes--an awfully good thing. He got it last year."

Mr. Longdon--but not too grossly--wondered. "How did he get it?"

Vanderbank laughed. "Well, SHE got it."

His friend remained grave. "And about how much now--?"

"Oh twelve hundred--and lots of allowances and boats and things. To do
the work!" Vanderbank, still with a certain levity, added.

"And what IS the work?"

The young man had a pause. "Ask HIM. He'll like to tell you."

"Yet he seemed to have but little to say." Mr. Longdon exactly measured
it again.

"Ah not about that. Try him."