The youth, for a moment, was aghast.

"You don't mean--that he is a gentleman?"

"Not in the sense you fear," she assured him. "Remember that his work
is more far-reaching than ours. It takes him everywhere; he must be fit
for everything. Sit down now, dear Aaron. You are tired. See, my
morning tea is ready, and there is bread and butter. You must eat and
drink. Maraton you will surely see later in the day. I do not think
that he will disappoint you."

Aaron sat down at the table. He ate and drank ravenously. He was, in
fact, half starved but barely conscious of it.

"He spoke of the great things?"

Julia shook her head. She was busy cutting bread and butter.

"Scarcely at all. What chance was there? And then Richard Graveling
came."

"They were friends? They took to one another?" the young man asked
eagerly.

She hesitated.

"I am not sure about that. Graveling was in one of his tempers. He was
rude, and he said things to me which I felt obliged to contradict."