"Oh," sighed Agnes, "I wish that my brother's butterfly would escape this very night, and tell me what he is doing at this moment!"
"Don't wish that, Agnes dear," said Miss Mason. "Should he be in pain or difficulty, and you could not help him, it would be better for you not to know of it."
"How can you say so!" cried Agnes. "I should always know when he is happy, and if troubles came I could give him my sympathy."
"Suppose you give it to me, Miss Denham, to keep for him. I would take great care of it."
They were examining his clothes with grins of delight (p. 193).
"I fear that you would put it away so carefully that you would not know where to find it at need," said Agnes.
So they chatted on, now in joke, now in earnest, and an atmosphere of youthful brightness came into the house with the sailor and dispersed much of its gloom.
He often called to spend a few hours with them, for he had few friends in Liverpool, and liked all the family. To Jack he became very useful; and Mrs. Denham grew to regard him almost in the light of another son.