"Yes," said Murtagh, in a tone that meant he was not going to say any more.
"And he was just as impudent as usual," added Winnie. "But he got the worst of it this time, thanks to Royal."
"Oh, Winnie, what have you done?" asked Nessa.
"Well, we were only amusing ourselves and not hurting anybody, and he came up and began worrying," returned Winnie, somewhat defiantly. "And besides, he had no business to talk like that before all the followers."
Murtagh's face softened a little as he looked at Nessa's. "Tell her just what we did if she wants to know," he said.
"Oh, dear!" sighed Winnie. "What is the good of going all over it again?"
"Well, but it served him right," said Bobbo; "I only just wish Royal had given him a good bite." And beginning at the beginning Winnie told the whole story. Murtagh watched Nessa's face to see what she thought of it. She did not look at him, and she listened in perfect silence till Winnie ended her recital.
"Oh, I am so sorry," she said; "so very, very sorry. How could you do it?"
"Why shouldn't we do it?" asked Winnie. "He had no business to talk to us like that."
"You will only make him more and more angry with you now," said Nessa, regretfully. "And then," she added, "it is very wrong; you must not be angry with me for telling you so, for it is only true, and makes me so sorry."