"Would you please let me have tea in now? Would you very much mind
taking it a little earlier this evening? I am feverish again, and my
tongue is so parched I don't know how to speak."

"Oh, it's near seven; you won't have long to wait."

With this exceedingly gracious answer to an invalid's request, Mr. Hare
quitted the room again and banged the door. He had not spoken unkindly
or roughly, simply with indifference. But ere Mrs. Hare's meek sigh
of disappointment was over, the door re-opened, and the flaxen wig was
thrust in again.

"I don't mind if I do have it now. It will be a fine moonlight night and
I am going with Pinner as far as Beauchamp's to smoke a pipe. Order it
in, Barbara."

The tea was made and partaken of, and the justice departed for Mr.
Beauchamp's, Squire Pinner calling for him at the gate. Mr. Beauchamp
was a gentleman who farmed a great deal of land, and who was also Lord
Mount Severn's agent or steward for East Lynne. He lived higher up the
road some little distance beyond East Lynne.

"I am so cold, Barbara," shivered Mrs. Hare, as she watched the justice
down the gravel path. "I wonder if your papa would say it was foolish of
me, if I told them to light a bit of fire?"

"Have it lighted if you like," responded Barbara, ringing the bell.
"Papa will know nothing about it, one way or the other, for he won't be
home till after bedtime. Jasper, mamma is cold, and would like a fire
lighted."