"Well, boy, thou art welcome since thou art come, though we had almost begun to think thou hadst forgot us and thy promise to return.

Come upstairs and greet thy aunt and cousins.

Hast thou seen aught of Cherry, as thou comest from the south ?" Cuthbert stepped back a pace, and some of the light went out of his face.
"Cherry!" he stammered, taken aback.

"How should I have seen her?
Is she not here ?" "Not for a matter of four days.

She is helping her aunt, Prudence Dyson at the Cross Way House, to wait upon some guests the ladies are entertaining.