They were so much at ease with him that even Mrs.Eltwin took part in the talk, and told him how they had spent the time of her husband's rigorous after-cure in Switzerland, and now he was going home much better than they had expected.

She said they had rather thought of spending the winter in Europe, but had given it up because they were both a little homesick.

March confessed that this was exactly the case with his wife and himself; and he had to add that Mrs.March was not very well otherwise, and he should be glad to be at home on her account.
The recurrence of the word home seemed to deepen Eltwin's habitual gloom, and Mrs.Eltwin hastened to leave the subject of their return for inquiry into Mrs.March's condition; her interest did not so far overcome her shyness that she ventured to propose a visit to her; and March found that the fact of the Eltwins' presence on board did not agitate his wife.

It seemed rather to comfort her, and she said she hoped he would see all he could of the poor old things.

She asked if he had met any one else he knew, and he was able to tell her that there seemed to be a good many swells on board, and this cheered her very much, though he did not know them; she liked to be near the rose, though it was not a flower that she really cared for.
She did not ask who the swells were, and March took no trouble to find out.