"Yes—yes—you may say so."
"It will be of use, but couldn't I persuade you to speak at the meeting next week at the mills?"
"No, McGregor. That is not in my line." He had other reasons for refusal.
"Let us drop politics. What is that boy of yours going to do?"
"Study medicine," he says. "He has brains enough, and Mr. Rivers tells me he is studious. Our two lads fell out, it seems, and my boy got the worst of it. What I don't like is that he has not made up with John."
"No, that is bad; but boys get over their quarrels in time. However, I must go. If I can be of any use to Tom, you know that I am at your service."
"When were you not at everybody's service?" said the doctor, and they went out through the hall.
"Good-bye," said Penhallow, but the doctor stopped him.
"Penhallow, may I take the liberty to bother you with a bit of unasked advice?"
"A liberty, nonsense! What is it?"
"Well, then—let that drunken brute Peter alone. You said that you would not let the carpenter use him, but why not? Then you hoped he would get work. Let him alone."