‘I can’t imagine that any decent person would.’
Then Roger lighted a pipe, and smoked it, before going to bed. Michael pulled out a book, and said he had some reading to do. How soon the one slept, how much the other read—these things have not been ascertained.
CHAPTER XXVIII
AT THE MILLS
When Michael came down on the following morning, he found Roger gazing out of the window, at the snowy prospect, and drumming his fingers on the pane.
‘A jolly day for you to turn out, Michael. Have you to go far afield?’
‘Not very; but I have a good deal to do. Balder Hall is the farthest place I have to go to. I must see Miss Strangforth.’
‘Ah, well, it is not a very good road.’
He turned to the breakfast-table, and they had both made some progress with the meal, when Michael observed—
‘Roger, you said you were going to have it out with Otho Askam to-day.’
‘So I am.’