"Then I'll stick in mine," said I impulsively, "and I'll come with
you, and doss down in any corner for the night."

He stopped and turned on the stairs.

"You mustn't do that," said he; "they won't have anything ready.
I'm going to make it my privilege to see that everything is as cosey
as possible when you arrive. I simply can't allow you to come to-day,
Mr. Cole!" He smiled, but I saw that he was in earnest, and of
course I gave in.

"All right," said I; "then I must content myself with seeing you
off at the station."

To my surprise his smile faded, and a flush of undisguised annoyance
made him, if anything, better-looking than ever. It brought out a
certain strength of mouth and jaw which I had not observed there
hitherto. It gave him an ugliness of expression which only
emphasized his perfection of feature.

"You mustn't do that either," said he, shortly. "I have an
appointment at the station. I shall be talking business all the
time."

He was gone to his room, and I went to mine feeling duly snubbed;
yet I deserved it; for I had exhibited a characteristic (though not
chronic) want of taste, of which I am sometimes guilty to this day.
Not to show ill-feeling on the head of it, I nevertheless followed
him down again in four or five minutes. And I was rewarded by his