She drew her into the morning-room. Colonel Keith was not there. Harebell's heart sank within her. She looked up at her aunt. Somehow or other, Mrs. Keith was not looking as angry as she had expected.
"I am very sorry, Aunt Diana, but I meant to run away and never come back again; I quite meant to. And—and—I met Tom—I didn't mean to meet him—he and me think God managed it, and—and—he made me come home again."
There was silence.
"Where did you meet him?"
"At an old, old house far away. I found it by accident and—" here Harebell's love of romance seized her, and she forgot she was in disgrace—"do you know it was exactly like the palace of the Sleeping Beauty. It was still and silent, and the weeds were enormous; and I quite hoped to see everybody asleep, and all that was left of the feast. And then I got into the house and found it empty and dark, and I was dreadfully frightened, and I couldn't find my way out, and I thought I was locked in; and then I screamed and screamed, and Tom heard me and came to me, and he's the carpenter who's mending the stable there!"
She paused for breath.
Her aunt was silent for a moment. She seemed to be turning over things in her mind.
Harebell put her arm out timidly and touched her aunt's arm.
"Do please forgive me, Aunt Diana. I know it was wicked of me to run away. I knew when I did it that it was, and that made it worse, didn't it!"
"What made you come back?" her aunt asked sharply.