“Oh, so you’ve concluded to come back,” he said.
“I didn’t intend to stay away for good,” I replied, as lightly as possible, though I watched him closely.
“Have you seen the squire?”
I paid no attention to this question, and presently he repeated it.
“I was at the squire’s house,” I responded.
“And what did he say?” asked Mr. Norton, though he did not appear to be as much interested as I supposed would be likely.
I pretended not to hear, and passed into the living room. Here on the table everything remained just as I had left it. Mr. Norton had evidently no appetite for breakfast.
“Did you hear my question?” he demanded.
“I heard it.”
“Why don’t you answer then?”