I went there by day unobserved, except by our people, for I never walked toward the village.

Mother descried me, as she would a distant sail, or Aunt Merce, who had a vacant habit of looking from all the windows a moment at a time, as if she were forever expecting the arrival of somebody who never came.

Arthur, too, saw me, as he played among the rocks, waded, caught crabs and little fish, like all boys whose hereditary associations are amphibious.

But Veronica never came to the windows on that side of the house, unless a ship was arriving from a long voyage.

Then her interest was in the ship alone, to see whether her colors were half-mast, or if she were battered and torn, recalling to mind those who had died or married since the ship sailed from port; for she knew the names of all who ever left Surrey, and their family relations.
Weeks passed before I had completed the furnishing of my room; I had been to Helen's wedding, and had returned, and it was still in progress.