By and by Sir Richard and Ruth returned. The latter was so full of chatter that her mother had to ask her to allow some one else an opportunity of speaking; and seeing her grandfather was regarding her with a disapproving frown on his face, the little girl sat down at the foot of her brother's sofa, and lapsed into silence.
"The storm has done a great deal of damage along the coast," Sir Richard informed his daughter. "The east cliff was washed right away last night."
"Washed right away!" Mrs. Compton echoed wonderingly. "What terrible force the waves must have had! I should have thought the east cliff would have withstood any storm!"
"I wish I could go and look!" Lionel cried impatiently. "If only my leg was well enough for me to get about!"
"You should be thankful it is as well as it is," his grandfather reminded him gravely.
"Oh, I am," Lionel answered quickly, flushing under the gaze of Sir Richard's reproving eyes; "but it's such a pity to be shut out of all the fun! Did you know the east cliff was washed away, Dick?"
"No," was the reply; "I never heard of the east cliff before."
"It was that high cliff which jutted out into the sea at high tide, forming a headland on the east from Holton," explained Sir Richard.
"Oh, yes; I've often been round that cliff looking for the secret passage," Dick answered, "but I did not know what it was called before. Is it quite washed away, grandfather?"
"Quite. The headland has disappeared altogether, making the line of cliffs almost straight."