Bunty caught her arms and held her. "Let me go, can't you?" she said
hoarsely. "I shall never get there at this rate. Three years, and all
those miles!"

She pushed him aside and tried to walk across the loft, but her legs
tottered under her and she fell down in a little senseless heap.
"Meg--I'll fetch Meg," said the little boy in a trembling, alarmed
voice, and he slipped down the opening and hastened up to the house.

CHAPTER XI

The Truant

He burst into Meg's bedroom like a whirlwind. "She's in the old shed,
Meg, and I'm not sure, but I think she's gone mad; and I've had the
awfullest beating, and got nearly killed with the cactus for her, and
never told anything. She can't eat the corned beef, either, after all.
She's run away--and oh, I'm sure she's mad!"

Meg lifted a pale, startled face from the pillows. "Who on earth--what--"

"Judy," he said, and burst into excited sobs. "She's in the shed,
and I think she's mad!"

Meg got slowly out of bed, huddled on some clothes, and even then
utterly disbelieving the wild story, went downstairs with him.

In the hall they met their father, who was just going out.

"Are you better?" he said to Meg. "You should have stayed in bed
all day; however, perhaps the air will do you more good."

"Yes," she said mechanically.

"I'm going out for the rest of the day; indeed, I don't expect
either Esther or myself will be back till to-morrow morning."

"Yes," repeated Meg.

"Don't let the children blow the house up, and take care of
yourself--oh! and send Bunty to bed without any tea--he's had
enough for one day, I'm sure."

"Yes," said the girl again, only taking in the import of what the
last pledged her to when Bunty whispered a fierce "Sneak!" at her
elbow.

Then the dogcart rattled up; and the Captain went away, to their
unspeakable relief.

"Now what is this mad story?" Meg said, turning to her small
brother. "I suppose it's one of your untruths, you bad little boy."

"Come and see,"' Bunty returned, and he led the way through the
paddocks. Half-way down they met Pip and Nell, returning earlier
than expected from the fishing expedition. Nellie looked sad, and
was walking at a respectful distance behind her brother.

"You might as well take a phonograph with you as Nellie," he said,
casting a look of withering scorn on that delinquent. "She talked the
whole time, and didn't give me a chance of a bite."

"Judy's home," said Bunty, alm