Musk's eyes had never dropped or lifted from his visitor's face. Their expression was inscrutable. The iron cast of that massive countenance was the only key to the workings of the mind within: the lines seemed subtly emphasised, as in the faces of the dead. And his gigantic body was the same; only the eyes seemed alive; and they were as still as the rest of him. "What if I've modified mine?" Sir Wilton looked up quickly; for the habitual starer had been for once outstared. "Do you mean that you have?" cried he. "I don't say as I have or I haven't. But that's a man, Sir Wilton, and I won't deny it." "Exactly what everybody is saying. I say no more myself." "And I won't say no less . . . Suppose you was to patch it up with him, Sir Wilton?" "I should help him finish his church." Musk sat silent for some time. His eyes seemed smaller. But they had not moved. "That would be a wonderful good action on your part, Sir Wilton," he said at last. "Not at all, Musk. I should be doing it for the people, not for Mr. Carlton." Another pause. "And yet, Sir Wilton, in a manner o' speaking, you might say as he deserved it, too?" Sir Wilton was quite himself again--a gentleman in keeping with the flower in his coat. "I certainly never expected to hear you say so, Musk," said he frankly; "though it's what I've sometimes thought myself." "I haven't said as _I_ forgave him, have I?" "No, no, Musk, you haven't; it is not in human nature that you could." It was a strange tongue that had spoken in the massive head; there was no forgiveness in that voice. Yet in the next breath the note of hate was hushed as suddenly as it had been struck. "That may be in human natur'," said Musk, "but that ain't in mine. I'm not a religious man, Sir Wilton. That may be the reason. But I do have enough respect for religion to wish to see that church up again before I die." "I consider it very generous of you to say so, Musk," declared the other, with enthusiasm. "But I do say it, Sir Wilton, and I never said a truer word." "So I hear; and that decides me!" cried Sir Wilton, jumping up. "I really had decided--for the sake of the parish--and was actually on my way to the church to take the whole job over. A gang of competent workmen could polish it off in a couple of months; and it ought to be polished off. But it's really wonderful what he has done!" "I don't deny it," said Musk; and waited for the squire to recover his point, his own set face unchanged. "Yes," resumed Sir Wilton, suddenly, "I was on my way up to make him that proposal just now; but as I passed your door I could not resist coming in. I thought I would like to tell you what I intended to do, and to give you my reasons for doing it." "There was no need to do that," said Musk, with an upward movement of the lips, hardly to be called a smile; for once also his great head moved slowly from side to side.