“Ah!” said Charnock, “I suppose that means you kept the thing I like ready, too?”
They talked about matters of no importance until the meal was over, and then Sadie made him sit down by the stove and light his pipe.
“Now,” she said, “you can tell me all you did at the construction camp, and leave nothing out.”
Charnock was frank. He knew Sadie understood him, perhaps better than he understood himself, and if his narrative gave her any pleasure, he thought she deserved it. Moreover, when he wanted he talked rather well, making his meaning clear without saying too much. When he finished she gave him a level glance.
“You're surely a bigger man, Bob! I see that, not only by what you have done but by what you think.”
“Well,” said Charnock, twinkling, “I'm glad you're satisfied, but you'll probably find out that there's room for improvement yet.”
“I suppose you must joke,” Sadie rejoined with mild reproof. “But what about Festing? Doesn't he meant to come back until the job's finished?”
“So far as I could gather, he does not. I tried tactfully to persuade him he was acting like a fool and imagine he sees a glimmer of the truth. All the same, he's obstinate.”
Sadie was silent for a minute, knitting her brows, and then looked up.
“You have only three days; I suppose I mustn't keep you after that?”