‘For my part,’ said Sebastian, ‘I have no more idea which he will do than an owl in the parish church tower.’ Mr. Sutcliffe laughed and went away, and a moment afterwards Myles Heywood entered the office. Sebastian, still leaning up against the mantelpiece, looked at him, and could read nothing from his expression. He felt that he did not know the man, and he also felt an inexplicable anxiety that the man should not say he was going to leave his service. ‘Good afternoon,’ said he, courteously; ‘you wish to speak to me?’ Myles had taken off his cap, a sign which Sebastian noted instantly. ‘Yes,’ said he, slowly, but not ungraciously. ‘You gave me an order the other day, which I took no notice of, and I spoke of you as I ought not to have done. I am sorry that I did so, and I beg your pardon.’ Sebastian had watched him intently, and with keen interest. He saw that Myles had strung himself up to say the words from a sheer sense of what was right and fitting, and from honest conviction that he had done wrong; not from any sudden leaning towards him, Sebastian. And he saw that the anxiety and the uneasiness followed, not preceded, the words. He saw that Myles laid great importance upon the manner in which his words were taken. ‘It is granted freely,’ said Mallory. ‘I felt sure that you were too manly not to do this. You have felt that I had no wish to be capricious, or put you to work that was not yours, when I gave you that order?’ ‘Yes; I have thought it over, and felt that that was the case.’ ‘You have worked here fifteen years, and it would have troubled me very much if you had, from any reason, been obliged to leave me as soon as I got here.’ Myles looked up, surprised, but, as Sebastian plainly saw, with a flush of self-reproach. It had not entered into his calculations that Sebastian could possibly take any interest in him or his. The latter went on, ‘I am new to my work; you must remember that. Another time, don’t let a mistake go so near costing you your place, and me my best workman.’ Myles’s face flushed. ‘I will certainly bear it in mind,’ said he. ‘I have a hasty temper, and it leads me astray often, I know.’ ‘And you do not like me,’ said Sebastian, looking steadily at him. Myles’s eyes were also fixed upon his. ‘I have not liked you,’ he said; ‘I should tell a lie if I said even now that I liked you; but I respect you. I shall respect you from this day, and I don’t think you will ever have to complain either of disrespect or disobedience from me again.’ ‘You have relieved my mind very much. I am glad we have had this explanation. It does you credit.’ ‘The credit is not all with me,’ said Myles, hastily, with a rising colour and a conscious look, which Sebastian remarked. ‘I had some advice from some one, that finished it off. I must go now. Good afternoon.’ ‘Good afternoon,’ said Sebastian, who would have prolonged the conversation if he could; but Myles departed, and Sebastian followed him out of the office.