She had already seen enough to know that neither of her fair companions
was capable of properly addressing the culprits, so she made up for
their deficiency, saying: "Go upstairs at once, you naughty boys, and
take off these pads." The naughty boys ascended, with a strangely
combined feeling of joy and smallness, and, when the knapsacks were
removed, Coristine sank into a chair laughing. "O Lord, Wilks," he said,
"she called them pads!"

The doctor arrived in time for dinner, and reported three wounded men
instead of one. Two had pistol wounds that had evidently been attended
to from the first, the other had a gunshot in the back, and must have
dragged himself a long way after it, for he was almost gone with loss of
blood. "That'll be the chiel' puir Nash fired at wi' Ben's gun," said
Carruthers.

"Can your wife put me and Fanny up for the night, John?" asked the
doctor, looking serious.

"Just delighted to do so," replied the Squire; "we have more space than
we know how to fill."

"I must tell you why. These rough fellows at the Encampment are furious,
and one of them, in his gratitude, warned me, on no account, to be in or
near your house to-night."

"Doctor, that's another thing. I have no right to let you risk yourself
and Miss Fanny in time of danger in my house."

"But we will, John. Come here, Fanny!" Telling his daughter the
circumstances, the doctor asked her decision, and she at once answered:
"Of course, Mr. Carruthers, we shall stay. Papa has two pistols in his
gig, and, if necessary, will lend me one. I am a good shot, am I not,
papa?"

"Yes, John, she has a fine eye and nerve for a mark."

At the dinner table Doctor Halbert conversed with the pedestrians about
the scenery they had passed through, and recommended them, by all
means, not to fail in visiting the Flanders' lakes. He informed them
that they constitued a long and perplexing chain, being more like a long
continuous sheet of water, narrowing every here and there into straits,
affording little more than room enough for two boats to pass through,
than an actual succession of lakes. To penetrate far in would be
dangerous, but his guide had informed him that no visitors to the first
three ran any risk of interference.

"By the bye, Miss Cecile," interrupted the Squire, "some of these lakes
are your property, are they not?"

"Yes, Mr. Carruthers," the lady replied; "but they would be so no longer
if a very kind friend had not paid the ta