The Commodore, walking through the store, saluted Edward, who stood behind the counter, attending upon customers, with a very long face.
As soon as Ned could be disengaged, he stepped up to his brother, who was working away again at his books—
'See here, Ned.'
'What does it mean, Jim?'
'It means that he has loaned it to us for ten years, free from interest, and with a full knowledge of our affairs.'
Ned was deeply affected with this sudden interposition in their favor; he looked full in his brother's face, and Jim, for the first time in many years, saw tears in his brother's eye.
'I hope we shall not forget this.'
'I hope not, Ned.'
The Commodore walked home with a very light heart that day. He must have felt that he had made a good investment, for his step was very elastic, and he gazed upon the pleasing prospect around him, and looked upon the signs of thrift that met his view on every side with so much complacency, that one would have supposed he had a new interest in it all, and felt that he was a partner in the great concern.
It had been a lovely morning, and nature appeared to be in perfect repose; not a cloud to dim the bright sun, nor a motion in the atmosphere to stir even the leaf of the aspen, if there had been any just then to stir, but it was not the season of leaves. A change, however, was about to take place, and the Commodore was sailor enough to guess that it was likely to be a violent one. Seeing Peter occupying his favorite seat (a large flat rock on the brow of the hill overhanging the shore), with the spy-glass in his hand, and perhaps a little curious to take a peep through it himself, he extended his walk to the edge of the hill.