"There's a place to wash your hands, if you think it's wuth while. I don't often, but I hope there's few like me," said the busy host, lifting the frying-pan from some coals, and emptying from it a generous slice of ham and three or four eggs on a platter.
"I like your open fire-place," said Haldane, looking curiously around the hermitage as he performed his ablutions.
"That's a nuther of my weaknesses. I know a stove would be more convenient and economical, but I hate all improvements."
"One would think, from what you said, your cat and dog had a hard time of it; but two more sleek, fat, and lazy animals I never saw."
"No thanks to me. I s'pose they've got clear consciences."
As the table began to fairly groan with good things, Haldane said:
"Look here, Mr. Growther, are you in the habit of giving disreputable people such a dinner as that?"
"If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for you," was the tart reply.
"O, I'm not finding fault; I only wanted you to know that I would be grateful for much less."
"I'm not doin' it to please you, but to spite myself."