But Sylvia's listening ears caught her father's voice, as he and Kester returned homewards from their day's work in the plough-field; and she started away, and fled upstairs in shy affright, leaving Charley to explain his presence in the solitary kitchen to her father.
He came in, not seeing that any one was there at first; for they had never thought of lighting a candle.

Kinraid stepped forward into the firelight; his purpose of concealing what he had said to Sylvia quite melted away by the cordial welcome her father gave him the instant that he recognized him.
'Bless thee, lad! who'd ha' thought o' seein' thee?
Why, if iver a thought on thee at all, it were half way to Davis' Straits.

To be sure, t' winter's been a dree season, and thou'rt, may-be, i' t' reet on 't to mak' a late start.

Latest start as iver I made was ninth o' March, an' we struck thirteen whales that year.' 'I have something to say to you,' said Charley, in a hesitating voice, so different to his usual hearty way, that Daniel gave him a keen look of attention before he began to speak.

And, perhaps, the elder man was not unprepared for the communication that followed.