"It's a sign of"—Mr. Esthwaite would have said "fever," but Eleanor had composedly faced him and he was silent; only busied himself in shewing Mr. Amos out, without a word that he ought not to have spoken. Mr. Amos went home and told his wife.
"I think she is all right," he said; "but she does not look to me just as she did before we landed. I dare say she has had a great deal of admiration here—"
"I dare say she feels bad," said good Mrs. Amos.
"Why?"
"If you were not a man, you would know," Mrs. Amos said laughing. "She is in a very trying situation."
"Is she? O, those letters! It is unfortunate, to be sure. But there must be some explanation."
"The explanation will be good when she gets it," Mrs. Amos remarked. "I hope somebody who is expecting her is worthy of her. Poor thing! I couldn't have done it, I believe, even for you."
CHAPTER XVII.
IN SMOOTH WATER.
"But soon I heard the dash of oars,
I heard the pilot's cheer;
My head was turned perforce away,
And I saw a boat appear."