There was silence for a while, during which time Gray rammed a pipe with Old Judge. George selected a comfortable armchair, and lit a cigarette.
"So you've been burying your uncle," said Gray, with a sneer. "I hope you buried him deep."
"Pretty deep, thanks," said George.
Gray planted his back to the fireplace, and looked sideways at his enemy.
"I hope it's a big grave," he said, "in case there's another death in the family."
"There won't be another death," said George; "we're pretty hardy."
"You're a clever devil," said Gray, in a tone that belied his words. "If all the family are as clever as you, they'll be in Parliament soon—or jail. I suppose you think you've got the best of me; but you'll find that two can play at this game."
"That's what I thought," said George. "It was because I couldn't get along without you that I came down here."
Gray accepted the situation for the time being with sullen resignation, and Mrs. Gray, entering the room timidly and finding the new lodger in good spirits, brightened up and forgot her husband's outburst. In half an hour George knew all the local news and scandal, and was on the best terms with Mrs. Gray, if not with her husband.
"Do you know," said Mrs. Gray, "at first I had a horrid thought that you and Jim were not friends. Wasn't it silly of me?"