The light was low when he came into the drawing-room, and looking closely at her face he asked three times over if she was well, until she laughed as she gave him the same answer again and again. Then he laughed, too, and after that they got on better, and exchanged all the "newses."
Silvertop was in good condition; he had got his summer coat and looked splendid; in fact, he had been too well fed and was getting a little over himself and would have to be taken down a peg or two before Thora rode him again. Ah, well, she wouldn't want him just yet--not just yet--and Magnus had better keep the rascal at the farm a little longer.
"But what a time you've been away!" said Magnus.
"Haven't we?" said Thora. "Five months, nearly six."
"Six months come Tuesday week," said Magnus.
At that they both became confused, and Thora began to show some photographs taken by Helga on the journey.
"How beautiful! How wonderful!" said Magnus. "But I wonder your ship wasn't floating on the pumps, as they say, before you got back to harbor--it must have cost a good deal of money to see all those places."
"It must," said Thora, "traveling is so expensive--especially when there is more than one to pay for."
"And then there was Helga," said Magnus.
"Yes, indeed, there was Helga. But the check which father and the Governor gave to Oscar seems to have been sufficient for all."