THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. Sir John went upstairs furiously, taking three steps at a time--twice. Then he finished that flight two at a time; walked fast up the first half of the second flight, one step at a time; slowly up the second half; paused on the landing, and then went deliberately along the corridor, with its row of painted ancestors watching him from one side, as if wondering when he was coming to join them there. Sir John Day was a man who soon made up his mind, whether it was about turning an arable field into pasture, or the setting of a new kind of corn. He settled in five minutes to have steam upon the farm, and did not ponder upon Glynne's engagement for more than ten; so that he was able to make his plans very well in the sixty feet that he had to traverse before he reached his brother's door, upon whose panel he gave a tremendous thump, and then entered at once. The major was in his shirt-sleeves, apparently turning himself into a jack-in-the-box, for he was standing in an old bullock trunk, one which had journeyed with him pretty well all over India; and as Sir John entered the room sharply, and closed the door behind him, the major started up, looking fiercely and angrily at the intruder. "Oh, you're packing, then?" said Sir John, in the most uncompromising tone. "Yes, sir, I am packing," said the major, getting out of the trunk, and slamming down the lid; "and I think, sir, that I might be permitted to do that in peace and quietness." "Peace? Yes, of course you may," said Sir John, sharply, "only you will make it war." "I was not aware," said the major, "that it was necessary for me to lock my door--I beg your pardon--your door. And now, may I ask the object of this intrusion? If it is to resume the quarrel, you may spare yourself the pains." "Indeed!" said Sir John shortly. "Well," continued the major, "why have you come?" "You are going, then?" "Of course I am, sir." "Well, I came to tell you I'm very glad of it," cried Sir John, clapping his brother on the shoulder; and then--"I say, Jem, I wish I hadn't such a peppery temper." "No, no, Jack, no, no," cried the major, excitedly; "it was I who was to blame." "Wrong, Jem. I contradicted you--very offensively, too, and I am confoundedly in the wrong. I didn't know it till Glynne came and pulled me up short. I say, it's a great pity for us to quarrel, isn't it?" "Yes," said the major, laying his hands upon his brother's shoulders, "it is--it is, indeed, Jack, and I can't help thinking that I shall be doing wisely in going back to my old chambers, for this projected wedding worries me. We'll see one another more seldom, and we won't have words together then. You see--no; stop a moment! Let me speak. You see, I feel my old wound now and then, and it makes me irritable, and then the climate has touched up my liver a bit. Yes, I had better go."