‘Esmie, my dear girl,’ he smiled at her, all charming, mad uncle, ‘I must ask a favor of you. I know you rely so much on the dear fellow, and can hardly spare him, but I insist on borrowing our lad for the day. I have a trunk to send off, a translation to finish, and was thinking of going on a hike this afternoon, towards Standelf.’ He beamed at the table in general and politely sipped his tea.