“Seems to me it’s bad enough for anybody,” said Andrew, morosely.

“Now, Andrew, you know it ain’t.  Here we own the house clear, and we’ve got that money in the savings-bank, and all that’s your mother’s is yours in the end.  Of course we ain’t always thinkin’ of that, and I’m sure I hope she’ll outlive me, but it’s so.  You know we sha’n’t starve if you don’t have work.”

“We shall starve in the end, and you know I’ve been—­” Andrew stopped suddenly as he heard Ellen and his sister-in-law coming.  He shook his head at his wife with a warning motion that she should keep silence.

“Don’t Eva know?” she whispered.

“No, she came out early.  Do for Heaven’s sake keep quiet till after supper.”

Eva was sharp-eyed, and all through supper she watched Andrew, and the lines of melancholy on his face, which did not disappear even when he forced conversation.

“What in creation ails you, Andrew?” she burst out, finally.  “You look like a walking funeral.”

Andrew made no reply, and Fanny volunteered an answer.  “He’s all tired out,” she said; “he’s got a little cold.  Eat some more of the stew, Andrew; it’ll do you good, it’s nice and hot.”

“You can’t cheat me,” said Eva.  “There’s something to pay.”  She took a mouthful, then she stared at Andrew, with a sudden pallor.  “It ain’t anythin’ about Jim, is it?” she gasped out.  “Because if it is, there’s no use in your waitin’ to tell me, you might as well have it over at once.  You won’t make it any easier for me, I can tell you that.”

“No, it ain’t anything about Jim, in the way you mean, Eva,” her sister said, soothingly.  “Eat your supper and don’t worry.”

“What do you mean by that?  Jim ain’t sick?”

“No, I tell you; don’t be a goose, Eva.”

“He ain’t been anywhere with—­”

“Do keep still, Eva!” Fanny cried, impatiently.  “If I didn’t have any more faith than that in a man, I’d give him up.  I don’t think you’re fair to Jim.  Of course he ain’t been with that girl, when he’s goin’ to marry you next month.”

“I’m just as fair to Jim as he deserves,” Eva said, simply.  “I think just as much of him, but what a man’s done once he may do again, and I can’t help it if I think of it, and he shouldn’t be surprised.  He’s brought it on himself.  I’ve got as much faith in him as anybody can have, seein’ as he’s a man.  Well, if it ain’t that, Andrew Brewster, what is it?”

“Now, you let him alone till after supper, Eva,” Fanny said.  “Do let him have a little peace.”

“Well, I’ll get it out of him afterwards,” Eva said.

As soon as she got up from the table she pushed him into the sitting-room.  “Now, out with it,” said she.  Ellen, who had followed them, stood looking at them both, her lips parted, her eyes full of half-alarmed curiosity.

“Lloyd’s has shut down, if you want to know,” Andrew said, shortly.