“My word!” said Traill, filling his pipe, “what a horrible picture of things! You must be out of sorts. Why, it's hysteria!”
Birkland had crawled back into his chair again. He puffed at his pipe.
“Oh! of course you don't see it!” he said. “After all, why should you? But it's true, every word of it. Oh! I'm resigned enough now. Besides, it's the beginning of the term. I'm inclined to think it's untrue, myself, just now. Wait and see. Watch White after he's had an interview with the Head—see Perrin and Comber together later on—study Mrs. Comber. But don't you bother. You won't listen to me—why should you? Only, in ten years' time you 'll remember.”
After that they talked of other things. Birkland was rather amusing in his sharp, caustic way.
“I say,” said Traill as he stood by the door on the way out, “that was all rot; was n't it?”
“What was?” asked Birkland.
“Why, about the place—this place.”
“All rot!” said Birkland gravely.
III.
But of course one dismisses these things very soon—especially, and immediately, if the person in question is Archie Traill.