"
"Precisely," said Waymark.
"You think so?" cried the other, delighted.
"I guessed as much when she met me that day and said I might let you
know where she was."
"Ha!" exclaimed O'Gree, with a long breath.
"And so the matter is settled?"
"All but the most important part of it. There's no chance of my
being able to marry for long enough to come. Now, can you give me
any advice? I've quite made up my mind to leave Tootle. The position
isn't worthy of a gentleman; I'm losing my self-respect. The
she-Tootle gets worse and worse. If I don't electrify her, one of
these days, with an outburst of ferocious indignation, she will only
have my patience to thank. Let her beware how she drives the lion to
bay!"
"Couldn't you get a non-resident mastership?"
"I must try, but the pay is so devilish small."
"We must talk the matter over."
CHAPTER XXI
DIPLOMACY
Waymark had a good deal of frank talk with himself before meeting
Ida again on the Sunday. Such conversation was, as we know,
habitual. Under the circumstances, however, he felt that it behoved
him to become especially clear on one or two points; never mind what
course he might ultimately pursue, it was always needful to him to
dissect his own motives, that he might at least be acting with full
consciousness.
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