“The captain has gone onto that steamboat to arrange about it.”

“Aren’t we staying with you any longer, then?”

“No,” said Otto: “you’re going home on that steamboat.”

“Shan’t we see you any more, then?” Emily pursued.

“No,” said Otto: “⁠—Well, some day, perhaps.”

“Are they all going, or only us two?”

“Why, all of you, of course!”

“Oh. I didn’t know.”

There was an awkward silence, while Otto wondered how to tackle the real problem.

“Had we better go and get ready?” asked Margaret.