Jack's voice was choked with tears, and old Colley wrung his hand, while Toby wriggled up to him, and licked his face with silent sympathy.
Colley stumbled out of the carriage with Toby in his arms when the station was reached, and so they parted.
In a few minutes more Jack found himself in Yarmouth, and was making his way towards the row. His only thought was of his mother and little Miss Joy. He looked up the familiar row, and then darted through it till he came to the little milliner's shop. The widow's caps still showed in the window, and there was a straw bonnet trimmed, and some artificial flowers, lying on a very dusty bit of black velvet. The window that used to be so bright looked dim, and the brass ledge before it dull and stained. Altogether there was a dejected appearance about the place. The door was open, and Jack entered cautiously.
His aunt was sitting behind the counter waiting for customers, who were slow to come; for the business had very much declined since Mr. Skinner had taken the command and Mrs. Harrison had left the house.
Mrs. Skinner looked very different from the Miss Pinckney of scarcely a year ago. She had a dirty, faded look, and her face was pinched and miserable. When she saw a sailor boy standing by the counter, she rose and said—
"What for you? Have you brought a message from any one?"
"No, Aunt Pinckney. Don't you know me? Where's my mother?"
Mrs. Skinner was for a moment speechless. Then she raised her shrill voice—
"Joe! Joe! come here; the young thief is come back."
Mr. Skinner, who was apparently smoking in the back parlour and taking life easily, now appeared.