“The last letter I got arrived some time ago and was about the accident at the forge,” Kit replied, and turned to Jasper. “I hope you are better, sir!”
“Thank you,” said Jasper with dry politeness. “We will talk about my injuries again. In the meantime, your arrival has excited some curiosity——”
“That is so,” Alan agreed. “Why did you not write to us, Kit?”
Kit went to the fireplace. Mrs. Carson waited, and he addressed her.
“I started rather suddenly and expected to arrive as soon as a letter. I telegraphed from Liverpool.”
“Then we did not get your message,” said Alan, and turned to Mrs. Carson. “Shall I ring for Stubs and inquire? The fellow is careless.”
Mrs. Carson stopped him, and giving Kit her hand, indicated a chair. She was polite and not at all embarrassed, and Kit imagined she knew something about the telegram. He, however, did not find out.
“At any rate, Kit wants some food, and I don’t know if a room is ready,” Alan went on. “Let me call Stubs.”
“Stubs knows his business,” Mrs. Carson rejoined. “I expect Kit would like to rest for a few minutes.”
Kit sat down. Alan’s fussy kindness was sincere, but Kit saw he was disturbed, and the others’ satisfaction certainly was not marked. Sometimes in Canada he had pictured his triumphant return.