Herbert Dare set off running. William knocked at the door and waited until it was opened. Then he also shook hands with Anna, and saw her in.
Frank and Gar were putting up their books for the night when William entered. The boarders had gone to bed. Jane, a very unusual thing for her, was sitting by the fire, doing nothing.
"Am I not idle, William?" she said.
William bent to kiss her. "There's no need for you to be anything but idle now, mother."
"No need! William, you know better. There's great need that none should be idle: none in the world. But I have a bad headache to-night."
"William," called out Gar, "they brought this round for you from East's. Young Tom came with it."
It was the case of fossils and the microscope. William observed that they need not have sent them, as he should want them there the next evening. "Patience said she had not had time to use the microscope," he continued. "I think I will take it in to her. I suppose she has been buying linen, and wants to see if the threads are even."
"The Lynns will have gone to bed by this time," said Jane.
"Not to-night. I have only just seen Anna home from Mrs. Ashley's; and Mr. Lynn has gone out to supper."
He turned to leave the room with the microscope, but Gar was looking at the fossils and asked the loan of it. A few minutes, and William finally went out.