An enormous report was open before him, from which he was culling the latent sweets, and extracting them with a pencil.

He glowered at Alaric with a severe suspicious eye, which seemed to accuse him at once of the deed which he had done.
'You are very late,' said Neverbend, 'but I have not been sorry to be alone.

I believe I have been able to embody in a rough draft the various points which we have hitherto discussed.

I have just been five hours and a half at it;' and Fidus looked at his watch; 'five hours and forty minutes.

To-morrow, perhaps, that is, if you are not going to your friend again, you'll not object to make a fair copy----' 'Copy!' shouted Alaric, in whose brain the open air had not diminished the effect of the bishop, and who remembered, with all the energy of pot valour, that he was not a mere clerk; 'copy--bother; I'm going to bed, old fellow; and I advise you to do the same.' And then, taking up a candlestick and stumbling somewhat awkwardly against a chair, Tudor went off to his room, waiting no further reply from his colleague.
Mr.Neverbend slowly put up his papers and followed him.