If I had had the bishop’s letter when he again used that word I am afraid I should have thrown something at him.
“And what about stopping on here for a bit?”
“Ah, yes. I fear that is now out of the question.”
I manfully repressed a great sigh of relief.
“The fact is, his Lordship wants me very soon elsewhere. In any case, I hope I have started the engine, and it may be that you will find it easier to keep it going in my absence. I understand there will be some ten days’ interval before I am required, but I should not feel justified in remaining here. I suppose I must return to lodgings for the time being.”
There was a wistfulness about him as he said this that made me feel mean in my gladness at getting rid of him.
In spite of himself I feared that the comparative comfort of my house had softened his ascetic fibre a little. There was something fine, too, about his immediate acquiescence in the idea of leaving it as soon as he was no longer on duty.
“Why not stop on as my guest until you are wanted?”
The invitation was an impulse I could not resist.
“You are very kind, Mr. Davoren. I have not been used to very much kindness in my life,” he said simply, “and I thank you very warmly. To be frank, what you suggest would be a very real help and convenience to me just at present. But I hardly like to accept——”