"He will be a paying guest in more senses than one. I dare say you would like to talk to him. Good night! I have an immense pile of letters to answer. I hope you will stay with us as long as you please."
He grasped Archie's hand, and strode off. Archie watched him for a moment, enviously. Ross gave the impression of power in action. It was certain that his amazing stride would take him far on any road—and always upward and onward: the motto adopted by his followers.
When he found himself alone with Mark, in the bedroom assigned to him, Archie said: "Ross seems to think that you are doing better here than you would, for instance, in Slowshire."
"Why, of course. I'm mending rapidly. One cannot do anything rapidly in Slowshire. It's not even a place to die in. One would dawdle over it."
"You will speak with such levity——"
"I've not your gravity, my dear old fellow. Now then, tell me about yourself. What are you doing?"
"I've been commanded to preach at Windsor."
Mark was so eager and warm in his congratulations that Archie found it easy to go on.
"I've brought my MS. with me. I want you to skim through it."
"I must read it at once. This is wildly exciting."