s. Macdonnell has with her,' said Allan, in an
undertone. 'I hear voices inside. Perhaps we had better not go in
this evening.'

They waited for some time; but still no one came to bid them enter.

'This is strange,' said Marjorie. 'I wonder whether Neil has forgotten
us.'

The door was pushed half open, and Neil's face looked out of the
aperture, with his mother's behind him. Both appeared agitated, and
Neil looked at the others as though he did not see them.

CHAPTER III

A SURPRISE

'Allan,' said Mrs. Stewart, coming downstairs, 'your father has to go
to Stornwell and will not be back until to-morrow, so there will be no
cricket match this afternoon. I have a note from Mrs. MacGregor,
asking you all to spend the day at Corranmore instead.'

'All right, Mother,' replied Allan; 'when are we to be there?'

'Mrs. MacGregor asks you to come early,' said Mrs. Stewart, consulting
the letter; 'I had better send you in the dog-cart, as it's rather far
to walk. Duncan is driving your father to the steamer, but he won't be
long.'

'Don't bother about the dog-cart, Mother,' said Allan; 'it would be
much jollier to walk; and we'd like to look in at Mrs. Macdonnell's
cottage on the way and ask what's the matter with Neil. We haven't
seen him for a day or two.'

'I wouldn't go there to-day, I think,' interposed Mrs. Stewart
hurriedly. 'I don't think Neil will be at home. I'm afraid the walk
would be too much for Tricksy,' she went on quickly, for the young
people were looking surprised.

'Not if we start now, I think, Mother, and give Tricksy a rest now and
again. What do you say, Tricksy?'

'Of course I can walk,' said Tricksy. 'I shan't be a bit tired,
Mother.'

Mrs. Stewart looked at her little daughter with a smile.

'I am afraid of your overdoing it, Tricksy; she said. 'You are always
trying to do as much as the others, who are so much older than
yourself. Well, do as you like; I leave you in Allan's charge, and he
will see that you are not made to walk too fast.'

'All right, Mother,' said Reggie; 'but won't you come a bit of the way
with us?'

'Not this morning, dear. I will come with you some other time.'

'All right, Mother,' said Reggie; 'but it's a long time since you've
gone anywhere with us. Cut away upstairs, Tricksy, and get your hat;
it's time we started if we are to take rests on the way.'

'Don't you think Mother is very quiet?' observed Tricksy, as the three
young people, a