He lacked that air of reproving hauteur which many
butlers possess, and it was for this reason that Roland had felt drawn
to him during the black days of his stay at Evenwood Towers. Teal had
been uncommonly nice to him on the whole. He had seemed to Roland,
stricken by interviews with his host and Lady Kimbuck, the only human
thing in the place.
He liked Teal. On the other hand, Teal was certainly taking a liberty.
He could, if he so pleased, tell Teal to go to the deuce. Technically,
he had the right to freeze Teal with a look.
He did neither of these things. He was feeling very lonely and very
forlorn in a strange and depressing world, and Teal's voice and manner
were soothing.
"Hearing you speak, and seeing nobody else in the room," went on the
butler, "I thought for a moment that you were addressing me."
This was not true, and Roland knew it was not true. Instinct told him
that Teal knew that he knew it was not true; but he did not press the
point.
"What do you mean--you think I am quite right?" he said. "You don't
know what I was thinking about."
Teal smiled indulgently.
"On the contrary, sir.
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