For all that, he persuaded himself that duty called him thither, even if it was bad temper which drove him from Maxfield.
"What has become of Ratman ?" he inquired of his guardian casually during the journey.
Captain Oliphant looked up from his paper sharply Mr Ratman's whereabouts had been occupying his thoughts that very moment.
"I really do not know, my boy," said he.

"He left very suddenly, and in the sad trouble through which we have passed I have hardly had time to think about him." There was a pause.

Then Roger said-- "Is he an old friend of yours, cousin Edward ?" Cousin Edward was a little perplexed by this curiosity.
"I have known him a year or so.

The friendship, however, is chiefly on his side." "I thought he came all the way from India on purpose to visit you ?" The captain laughed uncomfortably at this very correct representation of the facts.
"That is the version he likes to give.

The fact is that business brought him home, and as he knew I was at Maxfield, he wrote and proposed the visit.