“Will you go a step further? Will you leave off thinking about the dream?”
“It’s hard to leave off thinking about it, Allan. But I will try.”
“That’s a good fellow! Now give me that trumpery bit of paper, and let’s tear it up, and have done with it.”
He tried to snatch the manuscript out of his friend’s hand; but Midwinter was too quick for him, and kept it beyond his reach.
“Come! come!” pleaded Allan. “I’ve set my heart on lighting my cigar with it.”
Midwinter hesitated painfully. It was hard to resist Allan; but he did resist him. “I’ll wait a little,” he said, “before you light your cigar with it.”
“How long? Till to-morrow?”
“Longer.”
“Till we leave the Isle of Man?”
“Longer.”