His face too wore something of the look which Cuthbert had observed on the father's the previous evening--an expression of strained expectancy, as if with long waiting mind and spirit had alike grown worn and over anxious.

The bright eyes scanned his face eagerly.

Cuthbert felt half ashamed of his ignorance of and indifference to the burning questions of the day.
"I have heard naught, I know naught.

I have been living the life of the forests these past months," he answered, following Walter into a small room where they had often worked together.

"I have heard no word of what was passing in the world; I come to learn that here." The eagerness faded from Walter's face.