“Tom, I think you’re being made a tool of. I think Charles has some scheme that isn’t quite right. Don’t be dragged into it, Tom.”
“Dragged into it, Livy?”
“You’ve a noble, trusting nature, Tom; and I love you for it. But. Oh, I feel sure Charles has some deep-laid scheme, that he’s afraid to tell you of. I don’t think he was telling the truth to me just now.”
“Oh, nonsense, Livy. He couldn’t tell a lie if he tried.”
“No, Tom, dear; but he was trying.”
“When?”
“He was trying to find a reason for the ship’s sailing to-night.”
“But it was the plan, Livy. We expected to sail as soon as the summer fleet came.”
“Why, Tom? Tell me that.”
“There may be letters ordering us to sail. My dear girl. Maggy’s got a whole firm of merchants to order him as they please. We had to be ready in case an order came from them. There may be no order.”