He would forgive any offense for which an apology was made, but no apology had been made as yet; and, to tell the truth, he was a little afraid that if they got into an argument on the matter Medlicot would have the best of it.

And there was, too, almost a claim to superiority in Medlicot's use of the word "hard." When one man says that he has been hard to another, he almost boasts that, on that occasion, he got the better of him.
"That's just it," said Medlicot; "we do not quite understand each other.

But we might believe in each other all the same, and then the understanding would come.

But it isn't just that which I want to say; such talking rarely does any good." "What is it, then ?" "You may perhaps be right about that man Nokes." "No doubt I may.

I know I'm right.