Hamish; is there no danger of either?"
"There is not. I am too cautious for the one to happen, and, I believe,
too hardy for the other. Judy is a simpleton," he laughed; "she has her
water-butt, and what more can she desire?"
"Hamish, why do you sit up? Have you not time for your work in the
day?"
"No. Or else I should do it in the day. I do not sit up enough to hurt
me. I have, on an average, three hours' night-work, five days in the
week; and if that can damage a strong fellow like me, call me a puny
changeling."
"You sit up much longer than that?"
"Not often. These light days, I sometimes do not sit up half so long; I
get up in the morning, instead. Constance, you look grave enough for a
judge!"
"And you, laughing enough to provoke me. Suppose I tell papa of this
habit of yours, and get him to forbid it?"
"Then, my dear, you would work irreparable mischief," he replied,
becoming grave in his turn. "Were I to be prevented from doing as I
please in my chamber in this house, I must find a room elsewhere, in
which I should be my own master."
"Hamish!"
"You oblige me to say it, Constance. You and Judy must lay your heads
together upon some other grievance, for, indeed, for this particular
one there is no remedy. She is an old goose, and you are a young one."
"Is it right that we should submit to the risk of being set on fire?"
"My dear, if that is the point, I'll have a fire-escape placed over the
front door every night, and pay a couple of watchmen to act as
guardians.
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