“I hope you will be able to come and see us at Northbridge when you aren’t so busy,” said Lydia, who had been much taken by the retired Colonel and his practical religion.
“I should like it of all things,” said Colonel Crofts, taking her hand. “If you are kind enough to write to me I am Lieutenant-Colonel the Reverend E. F. Crofts. It sounds well, don’t you think?”
Lydia said it sounded very well and she hoped he wouldn’t be puffed up by it.
“I hope not,” said Colonel Crofts. “Fear God and Honour the King, and you can’t go wrong. Good-bye, Mrs. Merton. Good-bye, Mrs. Arbuthnot and God bless you.”
He made his farewells to the Crawleys and punctiliously to Miss Arbuthnot because he had sat by her at dinner and she knew India, and so went away.
“You look tired,” said Lydia to Mrs. Arbuth
