Part 8 (1/2)

With some difficulty they pushed up the lower sash a little way; and through the opening thus ht, thin body

'Is there anything there worth carrying away?' said Marjorie, standing on tip-toe and peering in

'Here's a cake,' said Reggie; 'and there are several pots of jaht as well have that; serve Elspeth right for getting into a teie squeezed hiround

'Here--Ha the house; 'take these things to the dining-rooet them out of the pantry; and knives and spoons too Bother, she's got the teapot in the kitchen; I'll have to go in and get it'

She strode into the kitchen with flashi+ng eyes and a haughty step; then stopped short in amaze for?'

There was no answer

'Is it because of the girdle?'

The girl shook her head; the tears falling upon the knitting which she was holding with tres out of the larder?'

'Not that, Miss Marjorie'

'Then whatever is the matter?'

By this ti very much astonished

'Elspeth, are you ill?' asked Tricksy, her large dark eyes growing very round in her little face

'No, Miss Tricksy; no, Miss Marjorie; it will be none of that; it will be Neil'

'Neil!' exclaimed Marjorie, while the others looked more and more amazed 'What's the matter with him? Neil is Elspeth's cousin, you know,' she explained

'Neil, poor lad; he will hev been arrested, Miss Marjorie They will hev taken hi the post-office! Eh, Miss Marjorie, your mother said you weren't to know, and it iss race to an honest fairl threw her apron over her head and moaned and lamented to herself in Gaelic, while they all stood around her, speechless

CHAPTER IV

THE COMPACT

'Neil!' said Reggie; 'it's impossible'

Marjorie had become deadly white, and Allan pushed the hair back fro, his hands in his pockets Reggie pranced backwards and forwards, in uncontrollable excitee as saucers in her little face

'Elspeth,' said Marjorie sharply; 'you're talking nonsense, it can't be true'

'Indeed, Miss Marjorie, it's the truth I will be telling you; the police came and arrested him before his mother's eyes that very day just after he had been out with you on the boat, and he's before the Sheriff in Stornwell this very day!'