Finally he had come down to Chebasset to get the matter off his mind; at least, such was his real purpose. He coloured it with the intention of "looking in at the mill," and gave Mather a few words at the office. Mather had been working at his desk, as Mr. Daggett, the Harbour Commissioner, had found and left him. Orders, Mather said, were piling in too fast.
Pease smiled. "Enlarge, then."
"Delay in profits," warned Mather. "No dividend this quarter."
"Go ahead just the same," said Pease. "I hoped for this."
Mather began writing. "Come, leave work," invited Pease. "I'm going up to the Blanchards'. Come with me."
"I'm ordering coal and material," said Mather. "We have plenty of ore, but the new work must begin soon."
Pease struck his hand upon the desk. "Do you mean," he demanded, "that you are writing about the enlargements already?"
"Plans were made long ago," answered Mather.
"What do you do for exercise?" cried Pease. "How do you keep well? I'll not be responsible, mind, for your breakdown when it comes."
But he made no impression and went away alone, climbed the hill, and found the Blanchards on their piazza. Ellis was more than he had bargained for, and the Colonel had never been exactly to Pease's taste, but they departed, leaving him alone with Beth. She presently noticed the signs that he was endeavouring to bring the conversation to a particular subject, as one becomes aware of a heavy vessel trying to get under way. So she gave him the chance to speak.