'It's a dreadful business this,' said Marjorie, her eyes shining brighter and bluer with excitement.
'I don't believe such a thing has ever happened with us before,' said Allan; 'our people have always had the credit of being very honest.'
'Who can it have been?' said Hamish, after considering for a minute. 'I can't believe that any of our people would have done it.'
'There will be no end of a row,' said Reggie, speaking for the first time. 'Father will have his work cut out for him, as he is a J.P. now.'
'Yes, and the Sheriff coming here, and everything,' said Marjorie. 'How will you like to meet your friend the Sheriff again, Tricksy?'
There was no reply.
Tricksy had fallen asleep among the peats, her head pillowed upon her arm, and her soft, dark waves of hair falling over her face.
The others began to realise how sleepy they were, after having risen before sunrise and spent several hours in the strong sea air, and in spite of excitement, conversation languished while the cart jolted along and finally halted at the gates of Ardnavoir, the manor-house of the island of Inchkerra.