“Thank you,” said Ess, trying to laugh and speak easily and lightly. “You’ll get a dose of nasty medicine for that, or a short allowance of tea, that you always insist on having such quantities of.”
“Of course, I’ll stay if I’m needed,” said Steve. “How long will you stay down there?”
“I’m going for about a week, but I may alter my plans, of course,” said Ess.
Then Steve said good night and went.
When he came to breakfast next morning he found Ned Gunliffe at the table. Ned stared hard at him, and Steve returned the stare coolly. “I hardly expected to see you back here,” said Gunliffe, scowling.
“No?” said Steve, carelessly. “Possibly not. But you see a man sometimes gets more than he expects in this world.”
“And sometimes what he deserves,” said Ned, sneeringly.
“And sometimes what he deserves, as you say,” returned Steve, significantly, and went on with his breakfast.
Ned finished his meal first and went outside, and a few minutes after Steve followed him.
Ned had gone straight to the house, and Ess had come out and strolled across the yard with him at his request.