He began a long history of three days in the metropolis. I listened, and heard little. I heard more plainly the cry of some night birds over Nethermere, and the peevish, wailing, yarling cry of some beast in the wood. I was thankful to slam the door behind me, to stand in the light of the hall.
“Leslie!” exclaimed mother, “I am glad to see you.”
“Thank you,” he said, turning to Lettie, who sat with her lap full of work, her head busily bent.
“You see I can’t get up,” she said, giving him her hand, adorned as it was by the thimble. “How nice of you to come! We did not know you were back.”
“But!” he exclaimed, then he stopped.
“I suppose you enjoyed yourself,” she went on calmly.
“Immensely, thanks.”
Snap, snap, snap went her needle through the new stuff. Then, without looking up, she said:
“Yes, no doubt. You have the air of a man who has been enjoying himself.”
“How do you mean?”