“A good deal more harmless than you are Joliffe. But you know the sort of man we have to deal with. And after all old Henny-Penny’s quite right—in war time. You see this chap is not pulling his weight in the boat. He’s a bad example. Our parson is rather down on him no doubt; still, in the circumstances, he’s quite right to bring him under control.”
“You think so?”
“It can do no harm at any rate.”
“But, you see, it’s going to upset the squire. And he’s such a good chap that it seems a pity.”
“Well, it’s no use trying to please everyone.”
“Quite so.”
“Why not certify the fellow and have done with it?”
“I can’t, after what I said to Brandon.”
“Tell me, Joliffe, why does Brandon take such an interest in him?”
“Nay,” said Joliffe, “that’s more than I can fathom.”