"All right," grumbled the doctor, "but it's ridiculous."
Meantime Elspeth, feeling that it was impossible to explain her changed circumstances to the pair, had turned on her heel, and was walking in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going?" asked Kind, gaining on her rapidly with his long stride.
"To Armour, the policeman's," she answered in a fatigued tone. "His wife is my good friend, and will take me in."
"Hum," murmured the Cheap-jack, "perhaps that will be best--for the present at all events. And I want to see Armour myself. Come along, doctor. There's work to be done."
Browne followed at once, as he also was anxious to see the kidnapped policeman, and learn from his own lips exactly what had taken place. But he was not pleased at this fresh entanglement of Herries, since, as he thought, the girl would only hamper a man already in difficulties. However, he guessed that what Elspeth had said was true enough, and that she really was engaged. It is creditable to the doctor's understanding that he comprehended how this change in the girl's circumstances had enabled her to face the "Marsh Inn" bully. "Extraordinary creatures, women," thought this philosopher.
Shortly Elspeth came to a small red-brick cottage standing some little distance from the village street and within a tidy garden, well cultivated. A light burned in the left-hand window, which showed that Armour and his wife were still sitting up. Certainly it was yet early, but Browne had thought that the policeman would have been in bed. However, the whispered information of Elspeth conveyed to his ear that the light shone through the sitting-room window.
"Who is there?" asked Mrs. Armour, opening the door an inch or so.
"I am here," said Elspeth, in a soft voice, "I have had a quarrel with Mrs. Narby, and she has turned me out of the inn, or rather I have given up my situation. Can you put me up for the night?"
"Surely, surely, oh, my poor girl," said the comely woman, taking the shivering, bedraggled girl by the arm, "and who's with ye, Elspeth?"