Thus very simply came into Tommy’s possession the coat that was to play so odd a part in his history.  “But oh, Grizel,” said he, with mock reproach, “you need not think that I don’t see through you!  Your deep design is to cover me up.  You despise my velvet jacket!”

“It does not—­” Grizel began, and stopped.

“It is not in keeping with my doleful countenance,” said Tommy, candidly; “that was what you were to say.  Let me tell you a secret, Grizel:  I wear it to spite my face.  Sha’n’t give up my velvet jacket for anybody, Grizel; not even for you.”  He was in gay spirits, because he knew she liked him again; and she saw that was the reason, and it warmed her.  She was least able to resist Tommy when he was most a boy, and it was actually watchful Grizel who proposed that he and she and Elspeth should revisit the Den together.  How often since the days of their childhood had Grizel wandered it alone, thinking of those dear times, making up her mind that if ever Tommy asked her to go into the Den again with him she would not go, the place was so much sweeter to her than it could be to him.  And yet it was Grizel herself who was saying now, “Let us go back to the Den.”

Tommy caught fire.  “We sha’n’t go back,” he cried defiantly, “as men and women.  Let us be boy and girl again, Grizel.  Let us have that Saturday we missed long ago.  I missed a Saturday on purpose, Grizel, so that we should have it now.”

She shook her head wistfully, but she was glad that Tommy would fain have had one of the Saturdays back.  Had he waxed sentimental she would not have gone a step of the way with him into the past, but when he was so full of glee she could take his hand and run back into it.

“But we must wait until evening,” Tommy said, “until Corp is unharnessed; we must not hurt the feelings of Corp by going back to the Den without him.”

“How mean of me not to think of Corp!” Grizel cried; but the next moment she was glad she had not thought of him, it was so delicious to have proof that Tommy was more loyal.  “But we can’t turn back the clock, can we, Corp?” she said to the fourth of the conspirators, to which Corp replied, with his old sublime confidence, “He’ll find a way.”

And at first it really seemed as if Tommy had found a way.  They did not go to the Den four in a line or two abreast—­nothing so common as that.  In the wild spirits that mastered him he seemed to be the boy incarnate, and it was always said of Tommy by those who knew him best that if he leaped back into boyhood they had to jump with him.  Those who knew him best were with him now.  He took command of them in the old way.  He whispered, as if Black Cathro were still on the prowl for him.  Corp of Corp had to steal upon the Den by way of the Silent Pool, Grizel by the Queen’s Bower, Elspeth up the burn-side, Captain Stroke down the Reekie Brothpot.  Grizel’s arms rocked with delight in the dark, and she was on her way to the Cuttle Well, the trysting-place, before she came to and saw with consternation that Tommy had been ordering her about.