seemed quite
unnecessary to her. Along the silent gallery she pattered, and down
the wide staircase, then through the two empty playrooms into the front
hall. She knew the window the boys had meant; she had noticed the red
berries tapping against the glass, as she passed it on her way to Finny's
study the morning before.

As she sped across the moonlit hall, she did not see that the study door
was ajar and that a chink of light shone out from it. All her attention
was absorbed in the one thought that the boys were going to take her away
from this houseful of unfriendly strangers, and that she would never have
to face them and their taunts again.

She clambered on to the window-seat, and unfastened the shutter. That was
easy enough, but the bolt of the window baffled her for some seconds.
When she did manage to shoot it back, the noise it made filled her with
apprehension. In her terror lest she should have been overheard, she did
not pause another instant, but threw up the sash and hastily put one
slippered foot on the ledge. Once outside and on her bicycle, the boys
would take care that no one overtook her; and she would be free at last!

Panting with excitement, she stooped through the open window and prepared
to draw her other foot after her. But before she had time to do so, a
light step had crossed the hall and an arm was flung round her from behind.

'Barbara!' exclaimed Miss Finlayson. '_Barbara!_'

CHAPTER VII

AN IMPROMPTU SUPPER PARTY

The disappointment was too much. Barbara covered her face with her hands
and burst into tears.

'Let me go, do let me go!' she cried, struggling to free herself. 'It
can't make any difference to you whether I run away or not, and it does
matter to me and the boys!'

'Barbara!' repeated Miss Finlayson, very quietly indeed. But the child
did not seem to hear.

'Why won't you let me go?' she sobbed passionately. 'I can't stop any
longer in this horrible place. Nobody wants me here, nobody! Do, do let
me go back with the boys.'

Miss Finlayson put her other arm for a moment round the little figure in
the pink dressing-gown, and she kissed the only place on the hot, wet
cheek that was to be seen. Then she stepped backwards and left her free.

'You can go, Barbara, if you want to,' she said, just as calmly as before.

Babs uncovered her eyes and looked at her incredulously. Now that she
was free to go the inclination to run away seemed to have left her.
Outside