“But I don’t understand. And you wished me to read it?”
“Yes, Olivia. I wished you to read it.”
“We can’t discuss it here, Livy,” Stukeley said. “Old Howard may come in. Let’s go on board.”
“Tom, we can’t go on board. I can’t enter that ship again. They’ve been calling us that for three months. Do think what it means, dear.”
“Only cackle,” he answered sullenly. “I’m not going to alter my plans for a little old wives’ cackle.”
“You think it’s only that, Tom?”
“Good luck. Yes.”
“But let’s go home and put an end to it. If we don’t it may grow. It may——”
The door opened. Howard entered. He looked round them with his air of weary boredom.
“Captain Margaret,” he said coldly, “your boat is waiting. Your captain is anxious not to lose the tide.”