Not long, he said; and he had come down here only to see me.

At first I refused to go into Mr.Whitelaw's house, being only anxious to get home as quickly as possible.

But my father seemed offended by this.

I wanted to get rid of him, he said, although this was likely to be our last interview--the very last time in his life that he would ever see me, perhaps.

I could not surely grudge him half an hour more of my company.