off in two years.
Surely two years was a very short time for a wife to trust her husband
with L600. Arguing, then, from his own good intentions, and his own
hopes and calculations, he had persuaded himself before he reached
Lerwick again that the forced loan was really nothing to make any fuss
about, that it would doubtless be a very excellent thing, and that
Margaret would be sure to see it as he did.

The Solan touched Lerwick in the afternoon. Jan sent a message to
Tulloch, and hastened to his home. Even at a distance the lonely air
of the place struck him unpleasantly. There was no smoke from the
chimneys, the windows were all closed. At first he thought "Margaret
is gone for a day's visit somewhere--it is unlucky then." But as he
reached the closed gate other changes made themselves apparent. His
Newfoundland dog, that had always known his step afar off, and came
bounding to meet him, did not answer his whistle. Though he called
Brenda, his pet seal, repeatedly, she came not; she, that had always
met him with an almost human affection. He perceived before his feet
touched the threshold how it was: Margaret had gone to her father's,
or the animals and poultry would have been in the yard.

His first impulse was to follow her there and bring her home, and he
felt in his pocket for the golden chain and locket he had brought her
as a peace-offering. Then he reflected that by the time he could reach
Peter's house it would be the tea-hour, and he did not intend to
discuss the differences between Margaret and himself in Peter's
presence. Thora's good influence he could count upon; but he knew it
would be useless either to reason with or propitiate Peter. For fully
five minutes he stood at his bolted door wondering what to do. He felt
his position a cruel one; just home from a prosperous voyage, and no
one to say a kind word. Yes, he could go to Torr's; he would find a
welcome there. But the idea of the noisy room and inquisitive men was
disagreeable to him. Snorro he could not see for some hours. He
determined at last that the quiet of his own lonely home was the best
place in which to consider this new phase of affairs between him and
his wife, and while doing so he could make a cup of tea, and wash and
refresh himself before the interview.

He unfastened the kitchen shutter and leaped in. Then the sense of his
utter desolation smote him. Mechanically he walked through the
despoiled, dusty, melancholy rooms. Not a sto