Can I go to the library and find a book?
The evenings are very long." He looked irresolutely at her.
"You must find them very long," he said.

"I am very sorry." "It cannot be helped," she answered.

"I have always heard that the nights in the country were twice as long as those in town.

I believe it." I knew by instinct what she meant; there was no need for words.

It was a veiled threat that if my father did not spend his evenings with her she would go back to town.