"You look simply awful, old chap," pursued Jack cheerily. "Where on earth have you been for the last month? I wrote to York and got the letter returned."
"Oh! I've been up and down," said Frank impassively.
"With the people you were with before—the man, I mean?"
"No. I've left them for the present. But I shall probably join them again later."
"Join...!" began the other aghast.
"Certainly! This thing's only just begun," said Frank, with that same odd impassivity. "We've seen the worst of it, I fancy."
"But you don't mean you're going back! Why, it's ridiculous!"
Frank stopped. They were within sight of the house now and the lights shone pleasantly out.
"By the way, Jack, I quite forgot. You will kindly give me your promise to make no sort of effort to detain me when I want to go again, or I shan't come any further."
"But, my dear chap—"