" said Seraminta, pretending to hesitate, "it naterally
goes agen me. But I dessay you'll be better off at the parson's than
yer could be with yer pore mother. Don't forgit the money. Now count
fifty, an' then take off the handkercher."

Mary began obediently; she had never been so submissive in her life.
When she was half-way through the number she fancied she heard a rustle,
and as she said the last one she pulled off the handkerchief and looked
round. To her great relief she was quite alone, in the thickest part of
the orchard; the woman had vanished, and it seemed for a moment as
though it might have been some ugly dream. But no, it was too true. It
had all really happened. "Ours you'll be for ever" echoed in
Seraminta's harsh tones close to her ear. She shuddered, and began with
feverish eagerness to push her way out through the thick growing boughs.
Oh to be with the others again! After searching for some time she
found a gate which led into the open fields. She could now see where
she was. Oh joy! There in the distance was the well-known group of
beech-trees and the blaze of a fire, round which were small figures
dimly moving. Mary could have shouted for delight and relief; she set
off running as hard as she could, never pausing till she arrived
breathless in the midst of them. They all crowded round her, exclaiming
and asking questions.

"Here she is! Where _have_ you been? Fraulein and Rice are still
looking for you. Did you lose yourself? Did you tumble down? Have you
been into the forbidden rooms?"

Fortunately for Mary it was impossible to answer all these questions, so
she did not attempt to answer any of them.

"Anyhow you didn't find me," she managed to say as she threw herself on
the ground near the fire.

"Oh, but isn't Fraulein in a state of mind?" said Jackie. "She says
she's `out of herself' with anxiety, and she's been crying. Here she
comes."

Poor Fraulein now appeared with Rice. She was so greatly agitated, and
yet so relieved to find that Mary had come back, that she could not
express herself in English. For some moments she poured forth a torrent
of German and French, half laughing and half crying, but Rice looked
very cross, and said severely at once:

"You've given us all a deal of trouble and anxiety, Miss Mary, with them
foolish pranks."

Mary felt as though she must cry; it was hard to be scolded when she had
just come through such a terrible trial. Her ey