tood a moment or
two thinking deeply while Miss Brodie chatted eagerly with Rob, whose
face retained its startled and anxious look. "First to Mr. Rae's office.
Come!" cried Mr. Dunn.

"But this letter ought to go."

"Yes, but first Mr. Rae's office." Mr. Dunn had assumed command. His
words shot out like bullets.

Miss Brodie glanced at him with a new admiration in her face. As a
rule she objected to being ordered about, but somehow it seemed good to
accept commands from this young man, whose usually genial face was now
set in such resolute lines.

"Here, Rob, you cut home and tell them not to wait dinner for me."

"All right, Jack!" But instead of tearing off as was his wont whenever
his brother gave command, Rob lingered. "Can't I wait a bit, Jack, to
see--to see if anything--?" Rob was striving hard to keep his voice in
command and his face steady. "It's Cameron, Jack. I know!" He turned his
back on Miss Brodie, unwilling that she should see his lips quiver.

"What are you talking about?" said his brother sharply.

"Oh, it is all my stupid fault, Mr. Dunn," said Miss Brodie. "Let him
come along a bit with us. I say, youngster, you are much too acute," she
continued, as they went striding along together toward Mr. Rae's office.
"But will you believe me if I tell you something? Will you? Straight
now?"

The boy glanced up into her honest blue eyes, and nodded his head.

"Your friend Cameron is quite all right. He was in some difficulty, but
now he's quite all right. Do you believe me?"

The boy looked again steadily into her eyes. The anxious fear passed
out of his face, and once more he nodded; he knew he could not keep his
voice quite steady. But after a few paces he said to his brother, "I
think I'll go now, Jack." His mind was at rest; his idol was safe.

"Oh, come along and protect me," cried Miss Brodie. "These lawyer people
terrify me."

The boy smiled a happy smile. "I'll go," he said resolutely.

"Thanks, awfully," said Miss Brodie. "I shall feel so much safer with
you in the waiting room."

It was a difficult matter to surprise Mr. Rae, and even more difficult
to extract from him any sign of surprise, but when Dunn, leaving Miss
Brodie and his brother in the anteroom, entered Mr. Rae's private office
and laid the letter for Mr. Sheratt before him, remarking, "This letter
is from Sir Archibald, and withdraws the prosecution," Mr. Rae stood
speechless, gazing now at the letter in his hand, and n