'All right, Marjorie?' inquired Allan.
Marjorie nodded without speaking, and others judged it best to refrain from asking questions.
For some time they walked in silence, and then Tricksy quietly slipped into the place next to Marjorie.
After a while, finding that the boys were out of earshot. Tricksy sidled closer, and ventured to ask Marjorie very gently how Mrs. Macdonnell had received the message.
'I—I—I—she was in bed,' said Marjorie, 'and I went to her, and it was rather dark, and after I had asked how she was and all that, I—I—I just told her. She never thought I was saying what wasn't true, for she said "Thank God for that."'
Marjorie ended with a little tearless sob, and neither of the girls could find anything to say for a little while.
When the boys came beside them again Tricksy walked on silently for a little way, then she suddenly burst out—
'I don't care, but what's the use of a Compact if we can't do anything to help Neil? There he is, in great danger, and Mrs. Macdonnell may hear of it any day, and if she does it will kill her; and we haven't done anything that's of any use.'
'What do you think we can do?' replied Reggie gruffly.
'Why, bustle about until we find out who stole the letters. Here we are, and we find little bits of paper which ought to tell us something if we had any sense, but we don't get further. Seven of us and we can't help poor Neil when he is in trouble.'