He dived back into his book as suddenly as he had emerged from it, and there was a dead silence.
"Never mind, auntie," whispered Rick sympathetically; for these outbreaks were almost the only things which upset Miss Willina's majesty. "I'll go first thing and bring Numbo Jumbo back to be burnt."
"Pray do not trouble," she replied with an audible sniff. "If I am foolish, I am foolish. If it is rubbish, I suppose it is rubbish. Only if anything happens, perhaps you will be considerate enough to admit that I foretold it."
Her hurt dignity, however, vanished before Rick Halmar's face, when he came in to breakfast next morning minus the idol.
"Gone! Oh, Rick! you don't mean it isn't there?" she cried, in not displeased excitement. "John! do you hear? It's gone, and you said it was rubbish. What do you say now?" Mr. Macdonald affected not to hear.
"Yes, it's gone," said Rick. "Numbo Jumbo's on the loose. I expect, really, that some of the crofter's children have taken it for a doll."
"It is all very well for your uncle to scoff, Eric, but the young should have more reverence for the wisdom of their elders," retorted his aunt severely.
"But Aunt Will!--you don't really believe--"
"I am not responsible for my beliefs to you, Eric, whatever you may be to me, and perhaps if you have no respect for me as your aunt, you will please to recollect that I am also your godmother. It all comes of disobedience. 'Thou shalt not make to thyself--'"
Rick leant back in his chair and roared.