."

"I'll go and prospect," said Ingred.

She came back with the bad news that not only was the stranger still
there, but he was actually in close and apparently familiar conversation
with Athelstane and Hereward, who were calling loudly for their sisters,
and to confirm her words came distant jodellings of:

"Ingred!"

"Queenie!"

"Where are you girls?"

There was nothing for it but to come forth from their retreat. It was
impossible to stay hidden forever. Quenrede issued as nonchalantly as
she could, with her hair tucked under her tam-o'-shanter, and her gloves
on. She bowed instead of shaking hands when Athelstane introduced Mr.
Broughten, a fellow-student of his college; it seemed a more grown-up
and superior attitude to adopt. She thought his eyes twinkled, but she
preserved such an air of stand-off dignity that he promptly suppressed
any undue inclinations towards mirth, and stood looking the epitome of
grave politeness.

"Broughten knows all about the old barrow," Athelstane explained. "He's
got a candle with him--we were duds not to bring one ourselves--and he's
going to act showman. Come along!"

The entrance into the mound was through a low doorway with lintel and
posts of unhewn stone. Inside was a kind of central hall with three
rudely-constructed chambers leading out of it. A pile of rough stones in
front seemed to point to further chambers.

"That part's never been explored yet," said Mr. Broughten. "Some of us
want to tackle it some day, if we can get permission, but it's a big
job. You don't want to bring the barrow down on your head, and be buried
in the ruins! I never think the roof looks too secure," he added easily,
poking at the stones above with his stick.

The girls, aghast at the notion of a possible subsidence, made a hasty
exit to the open air, and hovered near the entrance in much agitation of
mind till the rest of the party made a safe reappearance. Their
conductor, with a side glance at the bunch of flowers--which Quenrede
ignored--made some reference to the Giant King stone and his whispering
companions: he was evidently well versed in all old traditions, though
he refrained from mentioning local practices. He walked part of the way
home with the Saxons before he branched off to the place where he had
left his bicycle.

[Illustration: "YOU LOOK _NICE_--YOU DO _REALLY_, WITH YOUR HAIR DOWN"]

"You look _nice_--you do, _really_, with your hair down," said Ingred to
Quenrede t