“Never.” “Nor written? What can the lad mean? Whenever he does come back, he shall learn——I will teach him what he may expect by playing such pranks.” He saw by Anna’s downcast eyes that she thought such threats, if they could be overheard, were not the most likely means of bringing her brother back again. They put her too much in mind of the scolding mother’s address to her offending child, which she had overheard in the street,—“Come here, you little wretch, and let me flay you alive.” Le Brocq added more gently, “You are not afraid of any harm having happened? Have you asked anybody?” “Mr. Durell says——” “Durell! That you should go and disgrace our family before that man, of all people! What has Durell to do with us, beyond getting us into mischief?” “My mother asked him, because we thought he knew most about what people do when they get into trouble with the Excise.” “Not he. He thought I should pay the fine rather than come here. That shows how much he knows. But what does he say?” “He does not think Aaron will come back,” said Anna, with a faltering voice. “He has enticed him away somewhere, then. What should make the lad stay away?” “When they run away, they get disgusted with the law, Mr. Durell says, and set themselves against it. Too many, he says, turn to secret distilling, or to braving the law in some other way. And that is what we fear for Aaron.” “Nonsense: he is safe enough with Malet by this time, I have no doubt. He has been ropemaking there this fortnight, depend upon it.” “He was not there four days ago, as we learn by a letter from Louise this morning. We were so glad to see the letter! But there is nothing about Aaron, except their supposing that he must be managing the business while——” “I don’t think I need read the letter,” observed Le Brocq, pushing it away from him. He was afraid of the pain of seeing what his daughter might say about his being in prison. “Your mother is happy for to-day, I suppose, now she has heard from Louise?” “Not very,” answered Anna, with a tear or two. “Father, she is always crying out for Louise to come. She seems as if she thought everything would be right if Louise was here. But I am sure I dare not think of it. It is something to think that one of us is safe; and why should Louise be more safe than anybody else, if she came? There are other snares yet, Mr. Durell says; and where no stranger can do anything hardly without falling into a snare, is not it much better that Louise should stay away? Is not it, father?” “To be sure. It was mistake enough for us to come.” “Then, you will let us go away again? May I tell Louise so?” “O, yes. Tell her that, as soon as you hear of my being buried, you shall see if you can raise money enough to get back to Jersey; and that I charge her——” “Buried! father.” “Yes. I am very ill, and it is my belief that I shall die here. So your mother is very unhappy?”