"I don't care what you want; you shall stay where you are till we can do something to help you," returned Murtagh, pulling her into the centre of the bush again, while Winnie, turning to Rose, said with flashing eyes:
"I think you're a selfish coward, with your sneaking plans, and I wish with all my heart that you weren't my sister, so I do."
"I don't believe you are our sister," added Murtagh, passionately. "If papa heard you, he'd never speak to you again all the days of your life. And look here—if you do turn traitor, and let out one single word of what we do, I'll—" He stopped himself suddenly, and Theresa, frightened at the storm she seemed to have raised, put her hand on his arm with an imploring, "Mr. Murtagh, dear."
Rosie burst into tears again, and sobbed out that they were very unkind. After that no one spoke. For some minutes Rosie's sobs were the only sound. Then Winnie said: "I have a plan, Murtagh. How do you think this would do? Supposing we were to hide her in one of the empty rooms of the house just for the present, and then go this afternoon and get to see Mr. Plunkett somehow, and get the rent?"
"Yes, that's the best," said Murtagh, glad to seize any chance of bringing the affair to an end without deserting Theresa.
"Come then," said Winnie, making her way out of the bush. "Run on in front, Bobbo, and see if the road's clear."
"There now," said Bobbo, turning to Rose, "I think that's a good plan; don't you? It'll soon be all over now."
"It would be much better if they took her to Mrs. Daly," replied Rose, sulkily, turning her back upon them all, and beginning to move slowly towards the house.
They managed to smuggle poor Theresa into an empty room, close to their own bedrooms, and having done that they had next to summon up all their courage for the meeting with Mr. Plunkett.
"What shall we say to him, Win?" asked Murtagh, sitting on the banisters of the stairs leading down from their rooms.