'What's all this parleying in the hall, noise without, voices heard "off," and so forth?' he demanded.
William gave me such an agonized look of entreaty I decided I would say nothing about what had just occurred. 'It is only I endeavouring to get our friend William to rub his feet on the mat,' I retorted cheerfully. 'But let us go into the consulting chamber.'
[Illustration: Henry, being a Scotsman, likes argument.]
William followed me into the study and took his usual seat at the fireside in a dejected manner. Then went through a strange gymnastic.
He had just started to swing his feet up to the mantelpiece when he paused with them in mid-air and brought them down again. The arrested action had a droll effect.
'Have a smoke,' said Henry, pretending not to notice this peculiar conduct and pushing the tobacco jar towards him.
'No thanks, old man,' he replied. 'I'm giving up smoking--for a time.'
It was now Henry's turn to look surprised. 'Giving up smoking,' he ejaculated. 'What's wrong--is it your liver?'
William began to look annoyed. 'Look here, can't I go without a smoke for once without my entire anatomy being held up for discussion?' He then produced a cigarette and proceeded to light it.
'I thought you'd given up smoking,' commented the puzzled Henry.
'Do you call this smoking?' he replied in disgust. 'You might as well give lemonade to a man who asks for a brandy and soda and tell him it's just as good.'
'Then why renounce your pipe at all?' asked Henry, still mystified.
'I've decided to go through a sort of mental training,' replied William, speaking rather quickly and avoiding my eye. 'I think a man has no right to become the slave of habit. Directly he feels he is dropping into a groove he ought to face about and go in exactly the opposite direction.'
'Is that what you're doing just now?' I asked, wondering if this was an explanation of the Elizabeth episode.
'Exactly. It is the only way to build up one's character. Now, some people might think me a little careless regarding dress.'
'The ultra-fastidious might consider you a trifle insouciant, William.'
'That is one of the points in my character I intend to correct.' He dived into his pocket as he spoke and produced a brown paper parcel. William can carry any number of things in his pockets without making his figure look any bulgier or more unsymmetrical than usual. He boasts that he has at times gone on a three weeks' walking tour with all the luggage he required for that period disposed about his person, his damp sponge (concealed in the crown of his hat) keeping his head delightfully cool in the heat of the day.