angible than the fact that Margaret's cheeks were unusually
pink that morning when the burglaries were being discussed. And she
forgot that Margaret had just come in from playing croquet in the sun
without a hat.

For some days Tommy, and in a lesser degree Noel and Jack, enjoyed
themselves hugely. Colonel Baker was not the man to sit down tamely under
his loss, and he stormed at the police for not restoring his property,
interviewed the editors of the local papers, offered rewards for the
apprehension of the thieves, and generally made a great stir in the
matter. Presently Noel and Jack began to fear the consequences of their
rash act, and they urged Tommy to smuggle his father's property out of
their house and into his own. But Tommy turned a deaf ear to them, would
not give up the key, and said they must keep up the joke a little longer.
Then, just as Noel and Jack were about to declare that they had had
enough of it, Tommy received an unexpected invitation to Scotland, and in
the hurry of his departure went off with the key in his possession. So,
greatly to their annoyance, the Danvers boys found themselves compelled
to leave the things where they were.

CHAPTER XII

ELEANOR MEETS MARGARET'S AUNT

In spite of the liking that both Edward and Nancy had come to show for
her society, Margaret often felt very lonely at The Cedars, far more
lonely than she would have believed it would be possible for her to be
in a big household of lively boys and girls. Edward was a boy of many
occupations and had much to do besides playing croquet with her, and
Hilary often claimed Nancy's companionship even when she did not
particularly wish for it just for the spiteful pleasure of depriving
Margaret of it. So that Margaret was thrown very much on her own
resources--so much so, indeed, that she sometimes wondered with a touch
of wistfulness if she was any gayer in the midst of this merry,
chattering crowd of young people than she had been in the silent old
house that she had left so gladly one short month ago.

But, at any rate, her health had improved in a marked degree since she
had come to Seabourne. That was, no doubt, due to the fact that,
encouraged to do so by Mrs. Danvers, Margaret spent much of her time out
of doors. And as she had discovered that the afternoon was the best time
to visit Eleanor, Margaret generally started for Windy Gap directly after
lunch, and the pure, breezy air of the downs acted as an excell