"I am not sure of that. I never face the wind if I can help it. I have known numberless evils result from a little want of attention to such an apparently insignificant point."
Accordingly, we took a northerly direction, and we were rewarded with a sight of some beautiful scenery on that side of the town, so that the caprices of my friend caused me no disappointment.
We returned to our lodgings after a most delightful stroll of an hour and a quarter. Mr. Stowell looked at his watch with a dissatisfied air.
"I must be aware of you," he said, "a second time; you have beguiled me into a transgression. I am not angry, sir, not angry, but I shall feel the effect of it."
"Pray, what have I done?"
"Sir, you have talked me into at least fifteen minutes' excess beyond my regular exercise. I shall suffer for it."
"Do not blame me. Say, rather, that the freshness and novelty of the scenery have led us astray. You are not tired?"
"Not at all. But I ought to be!"
"Then I will prophesy that you will not come to harm."
"Were you not to give in to me in all matters appertaining to health? Don't contradict me again, I beg. I know my own constitution so thoroughly. I shall not be able to sleep without an opiate!"