You'll cool off."

"I shan't."

"What about your health, Martin?" asked Lawrence, "are you fit and able
to marry? You know what the doctor said."

"He said I might go off into consumption if I hung on in town--that
beastly atmosphere at Wright's and all the racket.... But there's
nothing actually wrong with me, I'm perfectly fit down here. I'll last
for ever in this place, and I tell you it's been a ghastly thought till
now--knowing that I must either stop here, away from all my friends and
interests, or else shorten my life. But now, I don't care--when I marry
Joanna Godden I'll take root, I'll belong to the Marsh, I'll be at home.
You don't know Joanna Godden, Lawrence--if you did I believe you'd like
her. She's so sane and simple--she's so warm and alive; and she's good,
too--when I met her to-day, she had just been to Communion. She'll help
me to live--at last I'll be able to live the best life for me, body and
soul, down here in the sea air, with no town rubbish ..."

"It sounds a good thing," said Lawrence. "After all, father, there
really isn't much use trying to keep up the state of the Trevors and all
that now ..."

"No, there isn't--especially when this evening's guest will arrive in
two minutes to find us sitting round in dirt and darkness and
dissension, all because we've been too busy discussing our heir's
betrothal to a neighbouring goose-girl to trouble about such fripperies
as dressing for dinner. Of course now Lawrence elects to take Martin's
part there's no good my trying to stand against the two of you. I've
always been under your heels, ever since you were old enough to boss me.
Let the state of the Trevors go--Martin, marry Joanna Godden and we will
come to you for our mangolds--Lawrence, if you were not hindered by your
vows, I should suggest your marrying one of the Miss Southlands or the
Miss Vines, and then we could have a picturesque double wedding. As for
me, I will build on more solid foundations than either of you, and marry
my cook."

With which threat he departed to groom himself.

"He'll be all right," said Martin, "he likes Joanna Godden really."

"So do I. She sounds a good sort. Will you take me to see her before I
go?"

"Certainly. I want you to meet her. When you do you'll see that I'm not
doing anything rash, even from the worldly point of view. She comes of
fine old yeoman stock, and she's of far more consequence on the Marsh
than any of us."

"I can't see that the so