Part 42 (1/2)

”The Painted Lady!” Corp whispered.

”Stroke!” Tommy replied, as cautiously. He was excited rather than afraid, and had the pluck to cry, ”Wha's that? I see you!”--but no answer came back through the mist, and now the boys had a double reason for pressing forward.

”Can you see the house, Corp?”

”It should be here about, but it's smored in rime.”

”I'm touching the paling. I ken the road to the window now.”

”Hark! What's that?”

It sounded like devil's music in front of them, and they fell back until Corp remembered, ”It maun be the door swinging open, and squealing and moaning on its hinges. Tommy, I take ill wi' that. What can it mean?”

”I'm here to find out.” They reached the window where Tommy had watched once before, and looking in together saw the room plainly by the light of a lamp which stood on the spinet. There was no one inside, but otherwise Tommy noticed little change. The fire was out, having evidently burned itself done, the bed-clothes were in some disorder. To avoid the creaking door, the boys pa.s.sed round the back of the house to the window of the other room. This room was without a light, but its door stood open and sufficient light came from the kitchen to show that it also was untenanted. It seemed to have been used as a lumber-room.

The boys turned to go, pa.s.sing near the front of the empty house, where they s.h.i.+vered and stopped, mastered by a feeling they could not have explained. The helpless door, like the staring eyes of a dead person, seemed to be calling to them to shut it, and Tommy was about to steal forward for this purpose when Corp gripped him and whispered that the light had gone out. It was true, though Tommy disbelieved until they had returned to the east window to make sure.

”There maun be folk in the hoose, Tommy!”

”You saw it was toom. The lamp had gone out itself, or else--what's that?”

It was the unmistakable closing of a door, softly but firmly. ”The wind has blown it to,” they tried to persuade themselves, though aware that there was not sufficient wind for this. After a long period of stillness they gathered courage to go to the door and shake it. It was not only shut, but locked.

On their way back through the Double d.y.k.es they were silent, listening painfully but hearing nothing. But when they reached the Coffin Brig Tommy said, ”Dinna say nothing about this to Elspeth, it would terrify her;” he was always so thoughtful for Elspeth.

”But what do you think o't a'?” Corp said, imploringly.

”I winna tell you yet,” replied Tommy, cautiously.

When they boarded the _Ailie_, where the two girls were very glad to see them again, the eight-o'clock bell had begun to ring, and thus Tommy had a reasonable excuse for hurrying his crew to the Cuttle Well without saying anything of his expedition to Double d.y.k.es, save that he had not seen Grizel. At the Well they had not long to wait before Mr. McLean suddenly appeared out of the mist, and to their astonishment Miss Ailie was leaning on his arm. She was blus.h.i.+ng and smiling too, in a way pretty to see, though it spoilt the effect of Stroke's statement.

The first thing Stroke did was to give up his sword to Tommy and to apologize for its being an umbrella on account of the unsettled state of the weather, and then Corp led three cheers, the captain alone declining to join in, for he had an uneasy feeling that he was being ridiculed.

”But I thought there were five of you,” Mr. McLean said; ”where is the fifth?”

”You ken best,” replied Tommy, sulkily, and sulky he remained throughout the scene, because he knew he was not the chief figure in it. Having this knowledge to depress him, it is to his credit that he bore himself with dignity throughout, keeping his crew so well in hand that they dared not give expression to their natural emotions.

”As you are aware, Mr. Sandys,” McLean began solemnly, ”I have come here to sue for pardon. It is not yours to give, you reply, the Queen alone can pardon, and I grant it; but, sir, is it not well known to all of us that you can get anything out of her you like?”

Tommy's eyes roved suspiciously, but the suppliant proceeded in the same tone. ”What are my offences? The first is that I have been bearing arms (unwittingly) against the Throne; the second, that I have brought trouble to the lady by my side, who has the proud privilege of calling you her friend. But, Sandys, such amends as can come from an erring man I now offer to make most contritely. Intercede with Her Majesty on my behalf, and on my part I promise to war against her no more. I am willing to settle down in the neighboring town as a law-abiding citizen, whom you can watch with eagle eye. Say, what more wouldst thou of the unhappy Stuart?”

But Tommy would say nothing, he only looked doubtfully at Miss Ailie, and that set McLean off again. ”You ask what reparation I shall make to this lady? Sandys, I tell thee that here also thou hast proved too strong for me. In the hope that she would plead for me with you, I have been driven to offer her my hand in marriage, and she is willing to take me if thou grantest thy consent.”

At this Gavinia jumped with joy, and then cried, ”Up wi' her!” words whose bearing the school-mistress fortunately did not understand. All save Tommy looked at Miss Ailie, and she put her arm on Mr. McLean's, and, yes, it was obvious, Miss Ailie was a lover at the Cuttle Well at last, like so many others. She had often said that the Den parade was vulgar, but she never said it again.

It was unexpected news to Tommy, but that was not what lowered his head in humiliation now. In the general rejoicing he had been nigh forgotten; even Elspeth was hanging on Miss Ailie's skirts, Gavinia had eyes for none but lovers, Corp was rapturously examining five half-crowns that had been dropped into his hands for distribution. Had Tommy given an order now, who would have obeyed it? His power was gone, his crew would not listen to another word against Mr. McLean.

”Tommy thought Mr. McLean hated you!” said Elspeth to Miss Ailie.

”It was queer you made sic a mistake!” said Corp to Tommy.