Winnie did not let go Murtagh's hand. Cousin Jane's curiosity was aroused, and she made no scruple of pressing in with Frankie, so Nessa entered with the rest.
Mrs. Plunkett was there. Mr. Blair was sitting by the writing-table, looking graver than Nessa had ever seen him. He seemed not to see any one but Murtagh and Winnie. As they approached his chair he fixed his eyes upon Murtagh, and said:
"Tell me, Murtagh, all that you know about the burning of the Red House."
Murtagh was still very white, but he answered straight-forwardly:
"I do not know anything at all except what Brown has just told us."
"What did he tell you?" inquired Mr. Blair.
"That Mr. Plunkett's hay-barn was burnt, and the fire spread to the house, and one of the children was hurt, and—" But here Murtagh's voice faltered and he stopped.
Cousin Jane began to have an inkling of what was the matter.
"Tell the truth, Murtagh," she exclaimed. "What else did he tell you?"
Murtagh glanced at Mr. Blair in hopes that he was satisfied, but his face wore an expression of stern expectancy that compelled Murtagh to continue. "And," he said, "that when Mrs. Plunkett looked out of the window, she saw a boy standing in the road."