"
"No, no; I called at Broom Hill."
"How did you come in at the back, lad? Do you not come up the lonnin?"
"I thought I'd go round by the low meadow and see all safe, and then
the nearest way home was on the hill side, you know."
Willy and Rotha glanced simultaneously at Ralph as he said this, but
they found nothing in his face, voice, or manner to indicate that his
words were intended to conceal the truth.
"But look how late it is!" he said as the clock struck twelve; "hadn't
we better go off to bed, all of us?"
"I think I must surely go off," said Mrs. Ray, and with Rotha she left
the kitchen. Willy soon followed them, leaving Ralph to eat his supper
alone. Laddie, who had entered with his master, was lying by the
smouldering fire, and after the one had finished eating, the other
came in for his liberal share of the plain meal. Then Ralph rose, and,
lifting up his hat and staff, walked quietly to his brother's room.
Willy was already in bed, but his candle was still burning. Sitting on
an old oak chest that stood near the door of the little room, Ralph
said,--
"I shall perhaps be off again before you are awake in the morning, but
all will be done in good time.
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