“Sky looked that way to me this afternoon. Early, too.”
“I think it will pass, though,” Chase declared. “We’ll have some Indian summer yet.”
“Had some snow, haven’t you?”
“Two or three inches, early this month. But it melted in an hour when the sun touched it.”
Amos nodded slowly. He was lighting his pipe. Agnes had come in with the visitor, but after a moment took herself upstairs and the two men were left alone. This made Chase uncomfortable. Even Agnes would have been a support in this encounter. He looked sidewise at Amos, but Amos was studying the fire; and after a minute the Congressman got up and poked out the ashes and put on half a bucket of fresh coal. Then he jabbed the coals again, and so resumed his seat.
“Ain’t been over to Washington lately, Chase,” he said presently.
Chase aroused himself. “No. No. Been very busy, Amos. Affairs here, you know....”
“I know, I know. Now, me—Washington is my business. But you have to stick to your coal and your iron.” He paused. “I sh’d think you’d get tired of it, Chase.”
“How are things in the Capitol?” Chase asked importantly. Amos looked at him sidewise.