WhileLovedayandhisneighbourswerethusramblingforth，fullofexpectancy，someofthem，includingAnneintherear，heardthecracklingoflightwheelsalongthecurvedlanetowhichthepathwasthechord。AtonceAnnethought，’Perhapsthat’she，andwearemissinghim。’Butrecenteventswerenotofakindtoinducehertosayanything；andtheothersofthecompanydidnotreflectonthesound。
Hadtheygoneacrosstothehedgewhichhidthelane，andlookedthroughit，theywouldhaveseenalightcartdrivenbyaboy，besidewhomwasseatedaseafaringman，apparentlyofgoodstandinginthemerchantservice，withhisfeetoutsideontheshaft。Thevehiclewentoverthemainbridge，turnedinupontheotherbridgeatthetailofthemill，andhaltedbythedoor。Thesailoralighted，showinghimselftobeawell-shaped，active，andfineyoungman，withabrighteye，ananonymousnose，andofsucharichcomplexionbyexposuretoripeningsunsthathemighthavebeensomeconnexionoftheforeignerwhocallshislikenessthePortraitofaGentlemaningalleriesoftheOldMasters。Yetinspiteofthis，andthoughBobLovedayhadbeenallovertheworldfromCapeHorntoPekin，andfromIndia’scoralstrandtotheWhiteSea，themostconspicuousofallthemarksthathehadbroughtbackwithhimwasanincreasedresemblancetohismother，whohadlainallthetimebeneathOvercombechurchwall。
CaptainLovedaytriedthehousedoor；findingthislockedhewenttothemilldoor:thiswaslockedalso，themillbeingstoppedforthenight。
’Theyarenotathome，’hesaidtotheboy。’Butnevermindthat。
JusthelptounloadthethingsandthenI’llpayyou，andyoucandriveoffhome。’