While talking about his son, Hagberd seems hopefull that he will come home soon. She had tried pityingly to throw some doubt on that hope doomed to disappointment. She got a horrible and unexpected reaction from Captain Hagberd, for a moment he seemed to her ready to go out of his mind. The sea can’t keep my son and there’s nothing to prevent him coming back. His eyes began to wander. But next day Bessie humoured him in silence, listening patiently by the fence.