The more he pictured the effect upon her, the lighter grew his heart.
He began before the knob of the sitting-room had left his hand and had gone as far as: "Oh I heard something about a friend of yours who--" when she checked him by rising to her feet and exclaiming: "Hold on a minute and listen to me first.

I have something that belongs to ye.

I found it after ye'd gone out, and ran after ye.

I thought ye'd miss it and come back.

I wonder ye didn't.