Passing through the lodge gates, he wended his way slowly along the carriage drive towards the house. High above his head the leafy canopy swayed gently in the summer breeze, making pleasant music, and here and there an industrious bee droned dreamily on leaf and flower. From distant fields the sheep-bells jingled gently, and mingled with the whistling of a plough-boy riding home his tired team, while from a neighbouring farmyard the patient cows lowed lazily while waiting to be milked.
When Benny reached the door of the Munroe mansion, he felt strongly tempted to turn and go back again; but concluding that such an action would be exceedingly foolish, he seized the bell-handle, gave it a vigorous pull, and waited.
"Is Mr. Munroe at home?" he inquired of the servant who opened the door.
"Yes; but he's engaged at present. Will you give me your name?"
"Bates. But never mind, you need not disturb him; another time will do as well."
"I think the master has been expecting you to call," with a glance at Benny's arm.
"Very likely. I said I would call some afternoon."
"I'm sure he will see you, then. Come this way, please, into the library."
Benny followed without a word, and soon found himself surrounded on every side with books.
"Oh, my!" he said, "I think I should enjoy spending a fortnight here. I wonder how long it would take me to read all these books, and how much longer to understand them? Ay, that's the rub--understanding and remembering what one does read."
Then he ran his eye along shelf after shelf, reading only the titles.
"I expect I should feel like a boy in a sweet-shop, not knowing which bottle to start with. Ah, Wordsworth!" as his eye caught the name. "I've heard of him. I wonder what the inside is like?"
He must have found something very interesting, for when Mr. Munroe came into the room half an hour later, Benny did not notice his entrance. Mr. Munroe watched him with an amused smile on his face for about five minutes, then said,
"I'm glad you've found something to take your fancy, Mr. Bates."
Benny started, and blushed to the roots of his hair. In the first place he thought he was alone, and in the second place it was the first time that he had ever been addressed as "mister."