But he did not come.

Marco spent some time in the garden with James, who was at work there raking over the ground, and gathering in such things as might be hurt by any sudden frost.
Marco worked with him for some time, and endeavored to converse with him, but he did not find him very communicative, and at last he went into the house and sat on the sofa in the parlor, reading, until supper time.
Marco fully expected that Forester would ask him at supper time whether he had been a-fishing or not; but he said nothing about it.
Forester told his father and mother about their plan for a boat, and gave them a full account of their visit to the mill.

His mother seemed quite interested in the account, and told Marco, that, after he got his crew well trained, she should hope that he would invite her on an excursion in the boat.
"Yes," said Marco, "we will.

We must have a seat, cousin Forester, for passengers and visitors, in the stern sheets." "The stern sheets ?" said Forester, "what do you mean by the stern sheets ?" "Why, it is aft," said Marco, "between the coxswain's place and the stroke-oarsman." "You'll have to show us," said his aunt, "when we come to see the boat." This kind of conversation somewhat relieved Marco's mind,--but still he was ill at ease, and he determined to tell Forester the whole story at bedtime, if he could only summon up courage to begin..