He shifted her hand on his, that it might rest the more securely, and his touch was gentle.
"And your merchandise—pray you, who is so kind as to look after that when you are engaged in those pastimes?" she asked.
"I have no fault to find with my merchandise, Judith," said he. "That I look after myself. I would I had more inducement to attend to it, and to provide for the future. But it goes well; indeed it does."
"And Daniel Hutt?"
"He has left the country now."
"And his vagabond crew—have they all made their fortunes?"
"Why, Judith, they cannot have reached America yet," said he.
"I am glad that you have not gone," she remarked, simply.
"Well," he said, "why should I strive to push my fortunes there more than here? To what end? There be none that I could serve either way."
And then it seemed to him that it was an ungracious speech; and he was anxious to stand well with her, seeing that she was disposed to be friendly.