The red of the clouds and the red of the water gave place to gray. The wind died down. The silence was intense,--all the more marked because of the few sharp sounds that broke it now and then. Across the bay, near shore, a man was raking oysters; he stood in the stern of his skiff, and the bow was up in the air. Near by a girl was driving sluggish cows along the beach, and her shrill cries came over the water; by a cottage on the bank a boy was chopping brush upon a block, and Delia watched the silent blows, and heard the sound come after. He smiled as she looked; for every night she saw the boy's mother stand at the door to call him, and saw him come reluctant to his task. There was a sense of friendly companionship in all these homely sights and sounds. It was different from the old house, shut in close by a second growth of birch and oak. The table was standing ready for a late supper. The children had gone for berries to the Island, and they would soon come home, and David was due, too, with his money. She smiled as he appeared. The ascent to the brow of the hill was so sharp that first you saw a hat in movement, then a head, then shoulders, body, legs, and feet. She ran quickly down the road to meet him, and took his arm. “You couldn't catch the noon train?” she said. “Captain Wells stopped at the door a little while ago to see what time we should be down to get the deed, and luckily I told him that we might not be down until into the evening. He said he 'd stay at home and wait till we came.” “Delia,” said David, when he had seated himself in the house, “I 've got bad news to tell you, and I may as well out with it first as last.” “You have n't shipped for another whaling voyage?” “No; that would be nothing,” he said. Delia stood and looked at him. “Well,” she said, “didn't you get as much as you counted on?” “Yes,--twenty more.” “It isn't anything about the children? I expect them home every minute.” “No.” “Delia,” he said, “you was a great fool ever to have me. You ought to have taken advice.” “What is the matter?” she said. “Why don't you tell me?” “I 've lost the money,” he said. “The Captain warned me how apt a seafaring man is to lose money; but I did n't take any heed, and I went off with Calvin Green--” “With Calvin Green! What did I tell you!” she said.