Then Christina turned at bay.
"I shall split on myself if I like," she said.
"You'll be a sneak if you do, and you can't separate yourself from me. England and Scotland are joined together, and they must stand or fall together. Remember that!"
Christina put her fingers in her ears and turned away from him. But she did not enjoy her time with her father, and he thought she must be out of spirits. She came home as miserable as when she went out, and was slowly toiling up the hotel stairs to her bedroom when she was met by Mrs. Maclahan.
"Ah, Tina, here you are! Now you can explain. Connie tells me she has found a huge red bonnet under your bed. It looks perfectly new. Is it a secret?"
"Yes," said Christina, with frightened eyes.
"So Puggy says. He told me you would explain. I hope to goodness it is not going to be a present to me?"
"Oh, no," said Christina eagerly. "It's—it's for Miss Bertha. We have bought it for her."
Mrs. Maclahan began to laugh, and she laughed so heartily that Christina looked at her in wonder.
"You ridiculous children! Oh, if Miss Bertha appears in it, I shall die! Where on earth did you get it?"