They entered the village. The farm lay about two miles behind it still. Some people nodded at them or waved. Men tipped their hats at Miss Appleton who seemed to be turning out finer by the day, probably because of the seaside environment. Tobias nodded back at the people in greeting while he listened to his sister.

"Ye're right," he agreed even though he wasn't sure he really agreed. He had considered telling his brother in a letter, but letters between them were so infrequent and so impassive, that he simply didn't know how to deliver this kind of message in such a form. He had finally just written an update about the farm and family, without saying anything about their father's health, and had asked Nathan to come home. But he had not received a reply yet, nor had his brother come home. He had thought that if Bess asked him to come home, Nathan might listen, just because he didn't dislike Bess. He had no idea how she'd deliver such bad news in a letter, and so he doubted whether it was the right approach.

Still, he was glad dealing with Nathan was her problem now.

"Well..." he began when his sister asked about updates. "I meant to tell you later, but Sally and I got engaged." If he was going to be a man now, he could just as well do it all the way, he had reasoned. And father liked Sally. It would give him some peace if he knew the matter was settled.