“Oh, surely not,” cried the old man in a disappointed tone. “I was reckoning so upon asking your opinion, my dear sir. Like liquid rubies. It will not take long.”
“No, it would not take long,” replied Chester, who now spoke rather excitedly, while the old man’s eyes glittered strangely behind his glasses; “but I have been here some time now, and I must get back.”
“But, my dear sir—”
“Don’t press me, please. I, am rather unwell.”
“You are not offended at my leaving you?”
“No, absurd!” cried Chester, hastily. “I have had a good deal of trouble lately, and my nerves have been shaken.”
“Your nerves have been shaken?” said the old man, gazing at him in a peculiar way.
“Yes,” said Chester; “but another day you must let me come; and perhaps you can tell me a little more about your neighbours.”
The old man smiled sadly.
“Ah!” he said, “I am growing old and garrulous, and I have bored you, as you young people call it. You will not come again.”