There was that faint, rare smile on his
handsome mouth, for which James would at any time have laid down his
life. But he only silently grasped his master's hand, and the two
men remained looking into each other's eyes without a word. Then Mr.
Rushbrook entered his room, lay down, and went to sleep, and James
vanished in the shadow.
At the end of an hour Mr. Rushbrook awoke refreshed, and even James, who
came to call him, appeared to have brightened in the interval. "I have
ordered a fire, sir, in the reserved room, the one fitted up from Los
Osos, as your study has had no chance of being cleaned these two weeks.
It will be a change for you, sir. I hope you'll excuse my not waking you
to consult you about it."
Rushbrook remained so silent that James, fancying he had not heard him,
was about to repeat himself when his master said quickly, "Very well,
come for me there when dinner is ready," and entered the passage leading
to the room. James did not follow him, and when Mr.
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