Finally, the Saturday afternoon arrived on which Hallam and Amy were to go to the Clove, to pass First Day with Adam Burn and their parents, returning before nightfall with the latter, to begin their reunited family life.
Dressed in their freshest clothes, upon Balaam and Pepita, groomed by the willing hands of Fayette, they journeyed gayly down the slope over the familiar road, eager for their visit and the warm welcome awaiting them.
"Do you know, Amy, it's queer that we've never been about alone much, even on these country roads, till now? Losing our home seems to have broken down ever so many restrictions."
"Well, don't you like it? Doesn't it make you feel freer and healthier?"
"Maybe. I'm not enthusiastic over our poverty. I'd be glad enough to go back to Fairacres."
"So would I, if we could live there honestly. I wouldn't go, not for one day, if I could help it, to live in debt as we did."
"Aren't we living in debt just the same now, and much more uncomfortably?"
"I suppose so; though it's different. This time it isn't going to last, and we haven't shut our eyes to it."
"Why isn't it going to last? How can we stop it? I see nothing ahead except starvation."
"Hallam Kaye, the very first thing you ought to learn is to be cheerful. You don't want to be a dead weight on anybody, do you? Well, you will be if you can't look ahead at all to anything bright. You and I are going to work and mend the family fortunes. Then we're going back to Fairacres and do all the good we can with the money we've earned."