with a smile on his face. You didn't often see it without one.

I knew he had come after me, and had given up his own fancy for mine.

`I thought you were going to stay and turn good,' I said. `Why didn't you?'

`It might have been better for me if I had,' he said,
`but you know very well, Dick, that whatever turns up,
whether it's for good or evil, you and I go together.'

We looked at one another for a moment. Our eyes met. We didn't say anything;
but we understood one another as well as if we had talked for a week.
We rode up to the door of our cottage without speaking. The sun had set,
and some of the stars had come out, early as it was, for it was late autumn.
Aileen was sitting on a bench in the verandah reading,
mother was working away as usual at something in the house.
Mother couldn't read or write, but you never caught her sitting
with her hands before her. Except when she was asleep I don't think
she ever was quite still.

Aileen ran out to us, and stood while we let go our horses,
and brought the saddles and bridles under the verandah.

`I'm glad you're come home for one thing,' she said. `There is a message
from father. He wants you to meet him.'

`Who brought it?' I said.

`One of the Dalys -- Patsey, I think.'