The Weeping Ash by Joan Aiken

manner was insolent—assertive—overweening; such airs in a servant I cannot and will not tolerate.”
    â€œ Talgarth insolent?” exclaimed his lordship, very much astonished. “Sure, sir, you mistake? It is just not possible! The politest, sweetest young fellow in the whole countryside! You must have misheard something he said! Come now, forget about the whole matter and take him back!”
    â€œI thank your Lordship, I have excellent hearing,” replied Thomas, who was now in a silent rage, “and I have not the least intention of taking him back.”
    â€œWell, I am very sorry to hear it,” said Lord Egremont. “Sorry for your sake, since Talgarth kept that garden in tiptop condition, and you will have far to go to find his equal. For my own sake I am glad, since I shall be happy to have him back at Petworth House, and indeed already promised that he should become my head gardener, should my intervention with you prove inauspicious. Sure you won’t change your mind, now?”
    â€œThat is quite out of the question, my lord,” replied Thomas. “In fact, I have already engaged another gardener.”
    â€œWell, well, I can see you are a fellow who don’t let the grass grow under his feet,” remarked Lord Egremont, “but still I confess I am disappointed. By the by,” he added with apparent irrelevance, “I daresay you will be wishing to lock up the underground passage?”
    â€œ Underground passage? ” Thomas sounded both suspicious and bewildered.
    â€œUnderground way, you know, between your little summer pavilion and Petworth House. Perhaps you will not have discovered it yet? The children have been used to run along it at all hours of the day,” said Lord Egremont cheerfully. “They were great friends of Miss Juliana, but I told them they were not to until you were settled in, just in case you did not care for the notion. I am afraid it has been used by the runners, too, from time to time—free traders, you know; I daresay, as an impress official, you, however, may not wish to countenance such activities.”
    â€œI most certainly shall not ,” replied Thomas glacially. “I should be greatly obliged if your Lordship would take immediate steps to have the passage closed off.”
    â€œVery well, very well! And I will bid you good day,” said Lord Egremont, sighing a little. He now appeared resigned to the fact that his new neighbor did not intend to reciprocate his friendly overtures in any way. Indeed it seemed to Fanny that his glance at her contained some commiseration as he bowed and remarked, “Good afternoon, ladies. I trust that you will be very happy during your stay in the Hermitage.”
    Thomas removed his own hat and bowed stiffly; then stood waiting, holding his horse, until Lord Egremont should have passed out of the lane. But the latter turned to say, on an afterthought:
    â€œBy the by—who is the new gardener that you have hired?”
    â€œHis name is Goble—Henry Goble,” replied Paget repressively, as much as to say, What business is that of yours? “He is a native of Petworth, I understand, but recently returned from long service in the navy.”
    â€œGoble? Goble? Great heavens, yes—I well remember the poor fellow. Worked for me at one time—excellent gardener—snatched off by the press gang when my back was turned. Now there’s a piece of irony for you,” remarked Lord Egremont, his customary good humor apparently restored by this item of news. “Pressed off to sea for dear knows how many years—come back—and goes to work for a regulating officer! Well, you certainly have a capable gardener there—yes, yes—you can’t go wrong with Goble—and I have Talgarth back—so perhaps it is all for the best.”
    And, chuckling, he called his dogs to heel and walked off up the lane.

Two
    The twins had