“I’m not tired. You can stop if you like. You won’t find me very good company.” Bayle walked to the couch again, and stood looking down at the handsome dimly-seen face for a few minutes, while, with an impatient gesture, Crellock walked back into the verandah. At the end of a few minutes Bayle joined him. “You are going to stay then?” said Crellock.
“No,” replied Bayle, “I am going home.”
“Better stop,” sneered Crellock. “He’ll be safer if you do. I might do him some mischief.”
“No, Stephen Crellock,” said Bayle calmly, “I am not afraid of that; bad as you are. Good-night.”
Crellock started at the words “Bad as you are,” but the friendly sound of the “good-night” checked him.
“Good-night,” he said, hoarsely; and he stood watching the dark figure till it disappeared amongst the trees, and then paced the verandah, and sat and smoked till morning.