"It's the sitting up," put in Ford again. "I don't think much of that kind of thing will do for Mr. Rupert Trevlyn."
"Perhaps it wouldn't do for you," grumbled Rupert.
George prepared to ride away. "Have you had any dinner, Rupert?" he asked.
"I made an attempt, but my appetite had gone by. Chattaway was here till past two o'clock, and after that I wasn't hungry."
"He tried some bread-and-cheese," said Ford. "I told him if he'd get a chop I'd cook it for him; but he didn't."
"I must be gone," said George. "You will not have left in half-an-hour's time, shall you, Rupert?"
George rode off over the stony ground, and they looked after him. Then Ford bethought himself of a message he was charged to deliver at one of the pits, and Rupert went indoors and sat down to the desk on his high stool.
Within the half-hour George Ryle was back again. He rode up to the door, and dismounted. Rupert came forward, a pen in hand.
Rupert shook his head. "Ford went to the pit and is not back yet; and I have a lot of writing to do. Why?"
"I thought we would have gone home together. You shall ride my horse, and I'll walk; it will tire you less than going on foot."
"You are very kind," said Rupert. "Yes, I should like to ride. I was thinking just now, that if Cris were worth anything, he'd let me ride his horse home. But he's not worth anything, and would no more let me ride his horse and walk himself, than he'd let me ride him."
"I fancy not. Unless he has gone by without calling in. Will you wait, George?"
"No. I must walk on. But I'll leave you the horse. You can leave it at the Farm, Rupert, and walk the rest of the way."
"I can ride on to the Hold, and send it back."
George hesitated a moment. "I would rather you left it at the Farm, Rupert. It will not be far to walk after that."
Rupert acquiesced. Did he wonder why he might not ride the horse to the Hold? George would not say, "Because even that slight attention must, if possible, be kept from Chattaway."
He fastened the bridle to a hook in the wall, where Mr. Chattaway often tied his horse, where Cris sometimes tied his. There was a stable near; but unless they were going to remain in the office or about the pits, Mr. Chattaway and his son seldom put up their horses.