'I did not think you meant anything silly. Tell me more in particular. I thought I was giving a touch to the need, with the beef; and a touch to the pleasure, with the apples and candy; and a touch to the comfort, with the tea. What shall I add to the list?'
'Perhaps nothing,' said Hazel. 'But I meant You know, all those things are down on the same level,and I wanted to get in strength and exhilaration of some other sort. Though I suppose,' she added gravely, 'I cannot guess how much even of that may be in roast beef when one has never had it before. Strength and hope and purpose may come that way too.'
'They do,' said Dane gravely.
'Well then, you have only to go straight on. Maybe they could not understand some tunes yet, if the bells rang them out.'
'Straight on,' said Dane smiling. 'And that will furnish me with full occupation between this and Christmas. Now another thing. I feel for the people in the other mills,don't you?'
'O the other mills!' said Hazel. 'I feel for anybody who has any connection with John Charteris.'
'What can I do?'
'One would like to buy them all up! But failing that What did you think to do?'
'May I have your thoughts first?'
'I was only thinking,' said Hazel, 'that it would not be good taste to go in among the Charteris men at all as among your own. Anything there, I should think, must be more general and less personal. Or done by somebody else.'