“Aye, I mean what I say,” Hutchinson added fretfully.
Strangeways got up from the chair. When he was not bowed or slouching it was to be seen that he was a tall man with square shoulders. Despite his unshaven, haggard face, he had a sort of presence.
“I'll go back to my room,” he said. “I forgot. I ought not to be here.”
Neither Hutchinson nor Little Ann had ever seen any one do the thing he did next. When Ann went with him to the door of the hall bedroom, he took her hand, and bowing low before her, lifted it gently to his lips.
Hutchinson stared at him as he turned into the room and closed the door behind him.
“Well, I've read of lords and ladies doin' that in books,” he said, “but I never thought I should see a chap do it myself.”
Little Ann went back to her mending, looking very thoughtful.
“Father,” she said, after a few moments, “England made him come near to remembering something.”
“New York'll come near making me remember a lot of things when I'm out of it,” said Mr. Hutchinson, sitting down heavily in his chair and rubbing his head. “Eh, dang it! dang it!”
“Don't you let it, Father,” advised Little Ann. “There's never any good in thinking things over.”