He thought indifferently that Paulina Maria Judd or his aunt Belinda might be in there calling on his mother; but when he went into the kitchen his mother sat there, and both the other women were with her.
The supper-table was still standing.

"Where have you been, Jerome Edwards ?" cried his mother.

She cast a sharp look at his parcel, but said nothing about it.

Jerome laid it on top of the old desk which had belonged to his father.

"I have been over to Dale," he replied; "I didn't start very early." His aunt Belinda looked at him amiably.