Traill gave a sigh of satisfaction, and, after all, he had omitted his principal reason.

“Yes. How long do you mean to stay here?”

“Oh! a year, I suppose. Then I ought to get to Clifton.”

“Yes. You'd better not tell the Head that, though. How do you like the other men?”

“Oh, I think they 're very good fellows. Dormer's splendid.”

“Yes—and Perrin?”

“Oh! he's all right. He seems to get annoyed pretty easily. As a matter of fact, I have felt rather irritated once or twice.”

“Yes—everyone's wanted to cut Perrin's throat some time or other. As a matter of fact, I shouldn't wonder if it was n't the other way round—one day.”

There was a pause, and then Birkland said, “And so you like it.”

“Yes, of course; don't you?”