It is
very probably a domestic entanglement. I shall expect you (to Agnes),
and you, too," turning to Podge, "to be absolutely frank with me. Miss
Agnes, have you seen Andrew Zane since his father's body was brought
into this house!"
Agnes looked around helplessly and uncertain. She took the tablets to
write a reply. Something seemed to arise in her mind to prevent the
intention. She burst into tears and left the table.
"Ha!" thought Duff Salter grimly, "there will be no confession there.
Then, little Miss Byerly, I will try to throw off its guard thy saucy
perversity; for surely these two women understand each other."
After breakfast he followed Podge Byerly down Queen Street and through
Beach, and came up with her as she went out of Kensington to the
Delaware water-front about the old Northern Liberties district.
Duff bowed with a little of diffidence amid all his gravity, and sneezed
as if to hide it:
"Jericho!--Miss Podge, see the time--eight o'clock, and an hour before
school. Let us go look at the river."
They walked out on the wharf, and were wholly concealed from shore by
piles of cord-wood and staves.
"I like to get off here, away from listeners, where I need not be
bellowed at and tire out well-meaning lungs.
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