"You may count on me, Charles.

I shall be ready in ten minutes." Charles made some pretence at annoyance, but I was not to be dissuaded.
I knew very well how invaluable the judgment of an elder man of experience could be on critical occasions; and besides, I always make a point of seeing everything I can, on all occasions.

In ten minutes I was down in the dining-room, where, beside a spluttering fire, the brothers, both heavily booted and ulstered, were drinking coffee by candle-light.
A hastily laid breakfast was on the table, but it had not been touched.
The gray morning light was turning the flame of the candles to a rusty yellow, and outside, upon the wide stone sills, the snow lay high against the panes.
Ralph was sitting with bent head by the fire, stick and cap in hand, his heavy boot beating the floor impatiently.

He looked up as I came in, but did not speak.

The ruddy color in his cheeks was faded, his face was drawn and set.