I could see that I was only allowed to come on sufferance, and that at the last moment they would have been willing to dispense with my presence.

However, I felt that I should never have forgiven myself if I had let them go alone.

Charles was not thirty, and Ralph several years younger.

An experienced man of fifty to consult in case of need might be of the greatest assistance in an emergency.
"Quicker!" said Ralph; "we shall miss the train." "No quicker, if we mean to catch it," said Charles.

"I allowed ten minutes extra for the snow.