Riderhood nodded, and asked: “Is it for that?”

“It’s as much for that as anything else. It’s something to be agreed with, on a subject that occupies so much of one’s thoughts.”

“It don’t agree with you ,” returned Mr. Riderhood, bluntly. “No! It don’t, t’otherest Governor, and it’s no use a lookin’ as if you wanted to make out that it did. I tell you it rankles in you. It rankles in you, rusts in you, and pisons you.”

“Say that it does so,” returned Bradley with quivering lips; “is there no cause for it?”

“Cause enough, I’ll bet a pound!” cried Mr. Riderhood.