‘I fear you do not know him so well as I do. “Daring” has simply nothing to do with it. He is not a man who dares or dares not. He is a creature who yields to every impulse of anger or passion, as blindly and unquestioningly, almost, as when he was a child. He has got an intense hatred for you now, because you have thwarted and spoken plainly to him, and he is now capable of committing any folly in order to punish you. What I wished to say is this, that if you will allow me, I will do all in my power to see you placed as soon as possible in a situation at least as good as the one which, from no fault of yours, you are forced to leave. And if I am the first to hear of such an opening, I will at once communicate with you; if you are the first, all I ask of you is, that you will write to me, and not to Mr. Askam, for references. Then I shall be able to see that justice is done, and that no scandal takes place.’ Roger yielded to the honest impulse which arose in him, to lay aside all suspicion, and thank Gilbert heartily and unaffectedly. ‘I don’t pretend it is not a matter of importance to me,’ he said, ‘for it is; and I am thankful to be helped forward a bit. I feel very grateful to you.’ ‘You won’t take a few days, then, to consider my proposal about the works here?’ said Gilbert, looking almost wistfully at him. Roger shook his head slowly. ‘I think it is better not,’ said he. ‘I have considered my whole situation carefully since Friday night, and I am perfectly certain that I am best out of Bradstane for a time, both for my own sake, and for that of those most bound up with me. And when I settle down, it would be as well that it should not be here, but somewhere else.’ ‘Very well. I shall not attempt to alter your decision now. We must see about another situation as speedily as possible.’