y.

The other aspects of the situation here, the non-business aspects, are
not so satisfactory. The menage is certainly peculiar. I had what
amounted to a bloodless duel with mine host the other day. Perhaps I
was not as tactful as I might have been. But he is an irritating
person. One of those people who seem to file your nerves. In fact there
is something almost upsetting' about that mild old scoundrel. He gives
me what the Scots call a "scunner." (You have to hear a true Scot
pronounce it before you get its inner meaning.) And when, that day, he
began talking about his daughter's future being her father's care, I
said--I forget exactly what I said but he seemed to get the idea all
right. It annoyed him. We were both annoyed. He did not put his
feelings into words. He put them into his eyes instead. And horrid,
nasty feelings they were. Quite murderous.

The duel was interrupted by Li Ho. Li Ho never listens but he always
hears. Seems to have some quieting influence over his "honorable Boss,"
too.

But I wish you could have seen the old fellow's eyes, Bones. I think
they might have told some tale to a medical mind. Normally, his eyes
are blurry like the rest of his fatherly face. And their color, I
think, is blue. But just then they looked like no eyes I have ever
seen. A cold light on burnished steel is the only simile I can think
of--perfect hardness, perfect coldness, lustre without depth! The
description is poor, but you may get the idea better if I describe the
effect of the look rather than the look itself. The warm spot in my
heart froze. And it takes something fairly eerie to freeze the heart at
its core.

From this, as a budding psychologist, I draw a conclusion--there was
something abnormal, something not quite human in that flashing look.
The conclusion seems somewhat strained now. But at the time I was
undoubtedly glad to see Li Ho. Li Ho may be a Chink, but he is human.

You may gather that our "battle of the Glances" did not smooth my
pillow here. If the old chap didn't want me to stay before, he is even
less anxious for my company now. But I am going to stay. Aunt Caroline
would call this stubbornness. But of course it isn't. It is merely a
certain strength of character and a business determination to carry out
a business bargain. Dr. Farr allowed me to engage board here and to pay
for it. I am under no obligation to take cognizance of his deeper
feelings.

The only feelings which concern me in