“You’ll come to me, my lads, both of you, if you want help?” said the captain, at their parting an hour later.
“Yes, of course,” cried Frank eagerly; but Andrew Forbes was silent.
“And you, Andrew lad. Gowan asked me to be a friend to you too; for he said that Lady Gowan liked you, and that it was a hard position for a lad like you to be placed in, and he is right.”
“Did Sir Robert say that, sir?” said the lad huskily.
“Yes, when we said good-bye.”
“Yes, I will come to you, sir—when I can.”
The last words were to himself, and he was silent for some time as they walked back to their quarters.
“I wish I hadn’t such a sharp temper, Frank,” he said at last. “But it is a queer position, and the harness galls me. I can’t help it. I ought to go away.”