o look delicate and fragile, but the healthy bloom
on her cheeks contradicted her words, and the landlady's reply showed no
softening of heart.

"Cramped, more like! Better go ye're ways for a guid sharp trot, to
bring the blood back to your veins. Ye'll be in time for the
afternoon's post; but unless ye're expecting news of your own, ye needna
fash for the rest. Mr Elgood's gane to fetch them."

"Mr Elgood?" Information had come at last, and in the most unexpected
fashion. "The gentleman we have been watching?"

The thin lips lifted with a suspicion of scorn.

"Oh, him! That's just the brither. The real Mr Elgood's away till the
village. You passed it on the road."

She disappeared into the "lobby," and brother and sister nodded at each
other solemnly, the while they munched the hot buttered scones.

"We'll go! As soon as we have finished. I long to see what he is like.
I'm glad it is not--" Margot nodded towards the window, and Ron
assented with a lofty superiority--

"Yes--he is not the type! A good sort, no doubt, but hardly an
intellectual leader. One could not imagine him writing those grand
articles."

"He may be useful, though, for he looks a friendly little soul, and if
we get intimate with him we must know his brother, too... These scones
are the most delectable things! Do you think She will be shocked if we
eat them all? I feel a conviction that I shall get into the way of
calling her `She'--with a capital S. `She who must be obeyed!' I
thought She would be softened by the sight of me hugging the jug, and
offer to light a fire at once; but not a bit of it! Her cure was much
more drastic. I'll accept it this time, as it suits my purpose, but
when to-morrow comes,--we'll see!"

Margot nodded her head meaningly, pushed her chair back from the table,
and picked up the golf cape which lay over the back of a chair. "After
all, I believe `She' is right! It will do us good to have a scamper,
and the unpacking can wait until the light goes." She peered discreetly
through the window, and held up a detaining hand. "Wait a moment until
the `Brither' has turned back towards the village. Then we'll sally out
of the door and meet him face to face."

Ron picked up his grey cap,--a coat he disdained, though he also was far
from warm,--and followed his sister into the bare entrance-hall, with
its pungent mingling of odours. From the back of the house could be
heard the jangling of milk-pail