“Yes, it was very kind.”

“What garred the laddie gang awa before the time, lassie?”

“How should I know, uncle?”

“Wha sud ken were it no you, Marjorie, my pet?”

“I am not in Mr. Coristine’s confidence.”

“I’se warrant ye, Marjorie, he’s just bitin’s nails to the quick at yon Mrs. Swamp’s that’s he no here the nicht.”

“Oh nonsense, uncle, why should he be so foolish?  If he wanted to stay, there was no one to hinder him.”

“Weel, weel, lassie, we’ll hear frae him sometime aboot yon neist o’ kin business.  Aiblins, ye’ll be a braw leddy wi’ a gran’ fortune yet, and turn up your bonnie bit nose at puir lawyer chappies.”

“I don’t want to turn up my nose at Mr. Coristine, uncle.  I think it was very splendid of him to fight for you as he did; but I knew nothing about that when he said good-bye, and I wouldn’t shake hands with him.”

The Squire put up his hand and stroked his niece’s hair.  “Puir lassie!” he said, “it’s a gran’ peety, but ye’re no feelin’ half as bad as he is the noo, gin I ken the lad, and I think I dae.”

It was ten when Mr. Bangs brought home the colonel’s horse, and Rufus rattled the missing waggon and team into the stable yard.  The latter joyfully saluted his sisters, shook hands with Timotheus, and courteously responded to the greeting of Maguffin.  Mr. Bangs, declining any solid refreshment, entered the office, where, besides the Squire, Mr. Errol and the veteran were established.  The picnic ladies were tired and had gone to rest, and the colonel was relating the events of the day to the wakeful dominie.  Mr. Bangs gave his company an account of the safe lodgment of Rawdon and Davis, and mentioned incidentally that he had seen Mr. Coristine alight from the train at Toronto and go up town.  He also cautioned the Squire against divulging the secret of the exhumed box of money, if he wished to save it for Matilda Nagle.

“Squire,” he said, “I don’t went to elerm you, bet I’m efreid there’s gowing to be more trebble to-night; I saw thet tevern-keeper from Peskiwenchow, Devis’ brether, et the stetion this merning, with sem of the fellows we fought et the Enkempment.  They’re not in Kellingwood now, end yeng Hill tells me he saw strenge men kemming this way in the efternoon.  I towld yeng Hill to bring his gen, and I brought my mounted petrol kerbine.”

“This is terribly vexatious, Mr. Bangs, just as we thought all our troubles were over.”

“It is, bet I think it will be their lest ettempt, a final effort to get meney and revenge.  We must wound es many ef them es we ken, end ellow the survivors to kerry off the dead end wounded.  Thet will be the end of it.  I met Toner, end he tells me old Newcome is ep and eway.  Toner kent come, for Newcome hes threatened to bern down his house.”

A gentle rap at the door interrupted the conversation.  The Squire went to open it, and saw his niece in night attire, with a pale, scared face, hardly able to speak.  “What is the matter, Marjorie?”