"
"Oh, I must stay here now," said Faversham decidedly. "One couldn't be
ungrateful for what has been done. But my best thanks to Lady Tatham all
the same. I hope I may get over to see her some day."
"You must, of course. Dixon tells me there is a carriage coming--perhaps
a motor; why not!"
A flush rose in Faversham's pale cheek.
"Mr. Melrose talked of hiring one yesterday," he said, unwillingly. "How
far are you?"
They fell into talk about Duddon and the neighbourhood, avoiding any
further discussion of Melrose. Then Faversham described his accident, and
spoke warmly of Undershaw, an occupation in which Tatham heartily joined.
"I owe my life to him," said Faversham; adding with sudden sharpness, "I
suppose I must count it an advantage!"
"That would be the common way of looking at it!" laughed Tatham. "What
are you doing just now?"
"Nothing in particular. I am one of the large tribe of briefless
barristers. I suppose I've never given enough of my mind to it. The fact
is I don't like the law--never have. I've tried other things--fatal, of
course!--but they haven't come off, or at least only very moderately.
But, as you may suppose--I'm not exactly penniless. I have a few
resources--just enough to live on--without a wife."
Tatham felt a little awkward. Faversham's tone was already that of a man
to some extent disappointed and embittered.
"You had always so much more brains than the rest of us," he said
cordially. "You'll be all right.
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