Ready ?" "No," said Dick shortly, for the plan to run away seemed now to belong to some project of the past.
"I couldn't come before," whispered Tom.

"I was all ready, but father did not go to bed for ever so long; and when at last I thought it was all right, and was ready to start, I heard him go down and open the back-door." "And go out ?" whispered Dick.
"Yes.

How did you know ?" "I didn't know, but my father has done just the same." "Oh!" "Did yours come back ?" "No," said Tom; "and I daren't start for ever so long.

But I've come now, so let's start off quick." "Which way did your father go ?" "I don't know, but we're wasting time." "Did he take the boat ?" "How should I know?
I didn't see him go.

I only heard.