of them you must tell them of these
strange neighbours of ours. They are better able to judge than we are
whether their presence has any significance or not."

"All right, little one," I answered, as we went indoors. "You have been
over-excited by all these wild doings, and you need a sound night's rest
to compose you. I'll do what you suggest, however, and our friends shall
judge for themselves whether these poor fellows should be sent about
their business or not."

I made the promise to allay my sister's apprehensions, but in the bright
sunlight of morning it appeared less than absurd to imagine that our
poor vegetarian castaways could have any sinister intentions, or that
their advent could have any effect upon the tenant of Cloomber.

I was anxious, myself, however, to see whether I could see anything of
the Heatherstones, so after breakfast I walked up to the Hall. In their
seclusion it was impossible for them to have learnt anything of the
recent events. I felt, therefore, that even if I should meet the general
he could hardly regard me as an intruder while I had so much news to
communicate.

The place had the same dreary and melancholy appearance which always
characterised it. Looking through between the thick iron bars of the
main gateway there was nothing to be seen of any of the occupants. One
of the great Scotch firs had been blown down in the gale, and its long,
ruddy trunk lay right across the grass-grown avenue; but no attempt had
been made to remove it.

Everything about the property had the same air of desolation and
neglect, with the solitary exception of the massive and impenetrable
fencing, which presented as unbroken and formidable an obstacle as ever
to the would-be trespasser.

I walked round this barrier as far as our old trysting-place without
finding any flaw through which I could get a glimpse of the house, for
the fence had been repaired with each rail overlapping the last, so
as to secure absolute privacy for those inside, and to block those
peep-holes which I had formerly used.

At the old spot, however, where I had had the memorable interview with
the general on the occasion when he surprised me with his daughter, I
found that the two loose rails had been refixed in such a manner that
there was a gap of two inches or more between them.

Through this I had a view of the house and of part of the lawn in front
of it, and, though I could see no signs of life outside or at any of the