"There is no house--"
"Yes there is--behind that piece of wood. Look over it--don't you see a light curl of blue smoke against the sky?--We never passed that house and wood, I am certain. We ought to make haste, for the afternoons are short now, and you will please to recollect there is nobody at home to get tea."
"I hope Lucas will get upon one of his everlasting talks with father," said Hugh.
"And that it will hold till we get home," said Fleda. "It will be the happiest use Lucas has made of his tongue in a good while."
Just as they stopped before a substantial-looking farm-house a man came from the other way and stopped there too, with his hand upon the gate.
"How far are we from Queechy, sir?" said Hugh.
"You're not from it at all, sir," said the man politely. "You're in Queechy, sir, at present."
"Is this the right road from Montepoole to Queechy village?"
"It is not, sir. It is a very tortuous direction indeed. Have I not the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Rossitur's young gentleman?"
Mr. Rossitur's young gentleman acknowledged his relationship and begged the favour of being set in the right way home.