She pointed to certain
roofs and gables in the valley.
"There's the whole village of Normandale," she said. "A busy place, no
doubt, but it's all Harper's--he's lord of the manor. He's patron of the
living, too. It's all his--farms, cottages, everything. And the woods,
and the park, and this house, and a stretch of the moors, as well. Of
course, he ought to find a lot to do--but he doesn't. Perhaps because my
mother does everything. She really is a business woman."
Collingwood looked out over the area which Nesta had indicated. Harper
Mallathorpe, he calculated, must be possessed of some three or four
thousand acres.
"A fine property!" he said. "He's a very fortunate fellow!"
Just then this very fortunate fellow came in. His face, dull enough as
he entered, lighted up at sight of a visitor, and fell again when
Collingwood explained that his visit was a mere flying one, and that he
was returning to London that night. Collingwood led him on to the
project which he had mentioned at his previous visit--the making of golf
links in the park, and pointed out, as a devotee of the sport, what a
fine course could be made. Before he left he had succeeded in arousing
like interest in Harper--he promised to go into the matter, and to
employ a man whom Collingwood recommended as an expert in laying out
golf courses.
"You'll have got your greens in something like order by this time next
year, if you start operations soon," said Collingwood.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106