The Earl grinned. “And how long will you be content to have this improving influence radiated to you from across the passage?” he asked, with cynicism. “Supposing, of course, that I give up my rooms to the reform-dynamo, so to speak.” “Oh, of course, no one is asking that of you. Obviously, your return makes other arrangements imperative.” “What will the other arrangements be like?” “That remains to be seen. But I’m quite clear about one thing. I will not turn back from what I have undertaken. She shall not know what want is, and she shall be respected. I swear that, Drumpipes; and I want you to remember it.” “Oh, I respect her immensely already,” said the Earl. “By George, a girl must possess extraordinary qualities who can come out early and catch a Professor of Culdees off her own bat, and work him for a tenner, and then leave him to forswear whisky on one side of a passage while she sleeps the sleep of the just in borrowed apartments on the other. It’s really splendid, old man. I take off my hat to her.” “Archie,” remarked David, slowly, “I’m smaller than you are, and no athlete, God knows; but if we have any more of that I will hit you in the eye, and chance it.” Drumpipes was amused at the notion, and chuckled. Then his face and voice lapsed into solemnity. “Davie,” he said, “I’ve no wish to vex you, but it’s a bad business. You’ll not win your way through without much expense and soreness of heart. You can take that from me, who should know if any man does.” Mosscrop accepted the portentous gravity of the tone in good faith. He nodded, as he looked hard at his friend. “Ay, I know,” he said, softly. “But I have no despair, and few doubts about it all, Archie. I am very happy in the thought of going forward with it; so happy that I see I never knew what happiness meant before. And if--we’ll put it at the worst possible--if disappointment should come out of it, why, I shall already have had the joy. And even if it broke me, what would it matter? I should only be back again where I was yesterday, and no one on earth would be the worse for that. But with you it was different.” The Earl nodded in turn, and smoked his pipe. At last, without lifting his voice or disclosing special interest in his hews, he said, “Man, she’s dead.” David’s eyes dilated. “What’s that--she--your wife, do you mean, is dead?” “Ay, four months since,” replied the other quietly. Mosscrop came over and shook hands with his friend. “I _will_ take a drink with you, after that,” he said, and filled a glass. “Tell me about it.” “I know nothing about it--except that she is dead. That is enough, quite enough.” He lifted his tumbler. “Here’s to the heating arrangements in the warmest corner down below.” “A foul cat!” said David, with a harsh tremor in his voice, sipping the toast.