On reaching the top of the stairway I saw a man walking to and fro; but he seemed to pay no heed to us as we passed by him.
"You will stay a day or two with us, I trust?" remarked Otho.
I answered in the affirmative.
"And then?—go you farther north?"
"That will depend on what your father thinks," I responded.
He gave me a searching glance, but spoke no word more until we reached my bedroom door.
"I am afraid you have had a rough welcome," he said; "but we have the name for a rough people. All the same, we are faithful to our friends."
"Yes," I assented.
"The Killigrews never yet turned their backs upon those who merited their friendship," concluded Otho; "but they never forgive those who betray their trust. Never!"
He uttered the words slowly and distinctly, as was his manner of speech.