Page:Mistress Madcap Surrenders (1926).pdf/205

 Mistress Roberts sorrowfully shook her head. "Nay," she sighed. "And his poor, wounded wife—how she doth long for news!"

There was a little silence. Then Mehitable cleared her throat self-consciously.

"Hast heard from Captain Freeman?" she asked far too casually.

Mistress Roberts looked at her in a kind, unobserving manner. "Nay—he went back to Morris Town."

Back to Morris Town! Back without one word of inquiry or interest!

"I hope I am not going to weep!" thought Mehitable, agonizedly to herself, blinking very fast. "He does not care! Nay, but I will not weep!"

"The snow glare doth hurt your eyes, I fear!" remarked Mistress Roberts, glancing up from her knitting. She rose and, going over to the window, raised it and struggled with the shutter, which she finally got to close. "There—that be better, forsooth!" she said in a satisfied tone.

"Thank'ee," said Mehitable, a little gruffly. (He does not care! He does not care!)

There was a scrambling noise outside the door. Soon it opened, and a shy little face peered rather frightenedly into the darkened room.

"Come in here, sir!" Mistress Roberts smiled at her young nephew. "Come in and tell Hitty what ye did the other night!"