The Bishop looked at his watch, and smiled, shaking his head.
"Time flies. I must, I fear, take my leave."
"Before you go," said Sir Jekyl, "I must tell you I've been thinking over my promise about that odious green chamber, and I'll pledge you my honour I'll fulfil it. I'll not leave a stone of it standing; I won't, I assure you. To the letter I'll fulfil it."
"It's very unlucky. You can't think how your going affects me. It seems so odd and unlucky, so depressing just now. I'd have liked to talk to you, though I'm in no danger, and know it. I'd like to hear what's to be said, clergymen are generally so pompous and weak; and to be sure," he said, suddenly recollecting his brother, "there's Dives, who is neither--who is a good clergyman, and learned. I say so, of course, my lord, with submission to you; but still it isn't quite the same--you know the early association; and it makes me uncomfortable and out of spirits your going away. You don't think you could possibly postpone?"
"No, my dear friend, quite impossible; but I leave you--tell him I said so--in excellent hands; and I'm glad to add, that so far as I can learn you're by no means in a dying state."
"Oh! I know that," said Sir Jekyl, returning that cheerful expansion; "I know that very well, my Lord: a fellow always knows pretty well when he's in anything of a fix--I mean his life at all in question; it is not the least that, but a sort of feeling or fancy. What does Doctor Pratt say it _is_?"
"Ah! yes, I have had a good deal in my day. Do you think I could tempt you to return, maybe, when your business--this particular business, I mean--is over?"
"I find business--mine at least--a very tropical plant; as fast as I head it down, it throws up a new growth. I was not half so hard worked, I do assure you, when I was better able to work, at the school, long ago. You haven't a notion what it is."
"Well, but you'll come back some time, not very far away?"
"Who knows?" smiled the Bishop. "It is always a temptation. I can say that truly. In the meantime, I shall expect to hear that you are much better. Young Marlowe--I mean Dives," and the Bishop laughed gently at the tenacity of his old school habits, "will let me hear; and so for the present, my dear Sir Jekyl, with many, many thanks for a very pleasant sojourn, and with all good wishes, I bid you farewell, and may God bless you."