with this newly-made acquaintance. Instinctively she turned
towards Ron, and the two pairs of brown eyes met, and flashed a message
of mischief, affection, and secret understanding--a glance which made
the watcher sigh with a sudden realisation of his own lost youth, his
bald head, and increasing bulk. They were only a pair of children,
these newcomers; kindly, affectionate, light-hearted children, whose
companionship would be a tonic to a lonely, tired man. The broad
cherubic countenance showed a passing shadow of wistfulness, as he
slacked his pace and said in hesitating tones--

"I am afraid I have tacked myself on to you, without waiting for an
invitation. I will say good evening now, unless I can act as guide, or
help you in any way. Have you any special object in your walk?"

"Only the post office in the village. Do please come with us if you
will! We should be delighted to have you!" cried Margot eagerly; and
Ron looked down into the little man's face with his beautiful dreamy
eyes, and said simply, "Please come, sir," with a sincerity which there
was no denying.

Mr Elgood beamed with satisfaction. "Come awa, then, ma bonnie men!"
he cried jauntily, and waved his stick in the air.

For the very first evening Margot could not help thinking that they had
made an excellent beginning!

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

AN AWKWARD MEETING.

Being a prudent damsel, and wise in her day and generation, Margot set
before herself the subjugation of Mrs McNab as her first duty in
Glenaire. To this end she repaired to her bedroom after breakfast on
the morning after her arrival, made her bed, carefully put away every
article of clothing, and tidied the oddments on the dressing-table; went
through the same performance in Ron's little crib adjoining her own, and
sailed downstairs in a glow of virtuous satisfaction.

Mrs McNab had apparently only one maid to help her to attend to her
eight guests and to keep the inn in its present condition of immaculate
order and cleanliness, though a shaggy-headed man--presumably the master
of the house--could be seen through the staircase window, meekly
brushing boots, and cleaning knives in a corner of the flagged yard. He
had a small, wizened face, to which the unkempt hair, tufted eyebrows,
and straggling whiskers gave a strong resemblance to a Skye terrier dog.
Margot watched him now and then for a minute or two as she passed up
and down, and heard him speaking once or twice, but