“Why did they leave home?”asked Henning sympathetically.
“Ah! the wanderlust. The desire to see the world. But you boys must come and see me again and I will tell you the story. There is no time now, as I see my husband coming from the cattle-shed.”
“Mother,” said the cheery voice of Roland Thorncroft a moment later, as he opened the door, “would not these young gentlemen like a good skate on the meadow pond? It has been swept by the wind, and is capital ice.”
Jack Beecham looked at his watch. It was already four o'clock.
“We are thankful,” he said, “but I am afraid we must do without that pleasure. It is quite time we started for home.”
Husband looked at wife. She nodded, and then he nodded. Something was settled between them.
“Don't you like skating, boys? I thought you did, seeing each had a pair of skates along.”
“Very much, sir,” said Tom Shealey, “but we must be starting now.”
“Come along, then. Bring your skates. There is no wind and it is not nearly as cold as it was this morning. You will not want your top-coats.”