lained that they were out for a walk, but Grizel could not lie,
and in a few passionate sentences she told McQueen the truth. He had
guessed the greater part of it, and while she spoke he looked so sorry
for her, such a sweet change had come over his manner, that she held his
hand.

"But you must go no farther," he told her, "I am to take you back with
me," and that alarmed her. "I won't go back," she said, determinedly,
"he might come."

"There's little fear of his coming," McQueen assured her, gently, "but
if he does come I give you my solemn word that I won't let him take you
away unless you want to go."

Even then she only wavered, but he got her altogether with this: "And
should he come, just think what a piece of your mind you could give him,
with me standing by holding your hand."

"Oh, would you do that?" she asked, brightening.

"I would do a good deal to get the chance," he said.

"I should just love it!" she cried. "I shall come now," and she stepped
light-heartedly into the gig, where the doctor joined her. Tommy, who
had been in the background all this time, was about to jump up beside
them, but McQueen waved him back, saying maliciously, "There's just room
for two, my man, so I won't interfere with your walk."

Tommy, in danger of being left, very hot and stout and sulky, whimpered,
"What have I done to anger you?"

"You were going with her, you blackguard," replied McQueen, not yet in
full possession of the facts, for whether Tommy was or was not going
with her no one can ever know.

"If I was," cried the injured boy, "it wasna because I wanted to go, it
was because it wouldna have been respectable for her to go by hersel'."

The doctor had already started his shalt, but at these astonishing
words he drew up sharply. "Say that again," ha said, as if thinking that
his ears must have deceived him, and Tommy repeated his remark,
wondering at its effect.

"And you tell me that you were going with her," the doctor repeated, "to
make her enterprise more respectable?" and he looked from one to the
other.

"Of course I was," replied Tommy, resenting his surprise at a thing so
obvious; and "That's why I wanted him to come," chimed in Grizel.

Still McQueen's glance wandered from the boy to the girl and from the
girl to the boy. "You are a pair!" he said at last, and he signed in
silence to Tommy to mount the gig. But his manner had alarmed Grizel,
ever watching herself lest she should stray into th