Agnes answered that she liked it very well. Did she not find it lonesome?
“No, indeed.”
Poor Agnes in her desire to be agreeable was totally unconscious of her falsehood.
Then Hugh turned to Miss Joe, inquiring kindly after her health.
Oh, her health was always good, and had never been better than at this moment.
When tea was over and the table cleared away they all drew around the fire. Miss Joe, with her reel and yarn, and Agnes sitting idle in compliment of Hugh’s return.
Hugh, on his part, began to tell them of his voyage, of his success, of his happiness to find himself at home again; of a certain large and well-filled box which he hoped might be acceptable to his aunt and Agnes. Whereupon Miss Joe began an exordium on the sin of “heaving away” money, which was gently cut short by Hugh, who, rising up, announced that he really ought to have been back to his vessel an hour before, and that he must now take leave of them.
“When shall we see you again?”
“To-morrow, about noon.”
“What! not before?”