y tried to explain, but Tricksy's eyes were full of contempt, and
her small figure seemed to grow taller with offended dignity.

'Such a nice hiding-place,' she said; 'and now you've gone and spoilt
it all.'

'Don't be a little silly, Tricksy,' said Reggie to her in an undertone;
and Tricksy allowed her dignity to subside.

Fresh hiding-places were chosen; and when at last the young people were
so tired as to be disinclined to run any more, Marjorie suggested going
indoors to see whether tea were ready.

The dining-room table was bare, and all faces fell.

'I'll just go into the kitchen and see what Elspeth is about,' said
Marjorie; 'perhaps the servants are forgetting us.'

In the stone-floored kitchen, whither they all trooped after Marjorie,
Elspeth was sitting knitting by the fireside.

'Elspeth, when is tea going to be ready?' inquired Marjorie, rather
impatiently.

The girl looked up at her, then down again at her knitting with
pretended indifference.

'Tea, Miss Marjorie? I wass thinking you would not be wanting any tea
to-day.'

Marjorie's lips tightened, but she kept down the rising temper with an
effort.

'Why not?' she asked. 'Here are Allan and Reggie and Tricksy from
Ardnavoir; and we want our tea, please.'

Elspeth looked up, and seemed to see the others for the first time.

'Would you ask the young ladies and gentle men to wipe their feet on
the rug, Miss Marjorie if you please? They are spoiling my kitchen
floor.'

This request made the whole troop feel uncomfortable, and they began
shifting from one foot to the other, conscious that they must have
brought more mud into the house than the authorities were at all likely
to approve of.

'All right,' said Marjorie impatiently; 'we are not coming in any
further; but will you please get tea ready for us as soon as you can?'

'Get tea ready! And how am I to do that, Miss Marjorie, if you please,
when the girdle hass been taken away out of the kitchen? I cannot be
making scones on the open fire.'

Marjorie turned red and bit her lip.

'Oh, never mind the girdle,' she said. 'We'll do without scones for
one day.'

'Indeed, Miss Marjorie, I never saw tea without scones. That may be
the way in foreign parts, but there never wass tea in the West
Highlands without scones; and I will be thinking you will have to wait
till the girdle comes home again.'

A flash darted out of Marjorie's eyes; and she remained rooted to the
spot for a m