Macmaster, with his back still turned, said:
"Shall you take her back?"
Tietjens answered:
"I imagine so." The brandy warmed his chest in its descent. Macmaster said:
"Better have another."
Tietjens answered:
"Yes. Thanks."
Macmaster went on with his breakfast and his letters. So did Tietjens. Ferens came in, removed the bacon plates and set on the table a silver water-heated dish that contained poached eggs and haddock. A long time afterwards Tietjens said:
"Yes, in principle I'm determined to. But I shall take three days to think out the details."
He seemed to have no feelings about the matter. Certain insolent phrases in Sylvia's letter hung in his mind. He preferred a letter like that. The brandy made no difference to his mentality, but it seemed to keep him from shivering.