'That's all very well,' interrupted Marjorie, 'but that's not what's making you and Allan so busy just now. Why did you go off together yesterday, and stay away for such a time, leaving us to entertain your guests? You're busy with something that you don't want us to know about and I'd just like to find out what it is. It always irritates me when people make mysteries out of nothing.'
Reggie was looking grave, and his dark eyes studied Marjorie intently.
'Hullo, you two,' said Allan, coming up; 'how are you getting on?'
Marjorie rose up from the ground, and seated herself upon the pile of cut heather.
'I've just been telling Reggie that I know that you and he have a secret between you,' she said, looking boldly at Allan. 'I'd just like to know what it is. Hardly fair, I call it; keeping something from the other members of the Compact——'
She broke off upon seeing the grave, concerned expression in Allan's eyes.
'It's all right,' she said, looking fixedly out to sea; 'it's something that you know you ought to keep from me, and I'm not going to find out what it is.'
She had become flushed, and her heart was beating fast as a suspicion forced itself upon her. She turned, and stooping down, took up her armful of heather.
'I'm going to carry this to the boat,' she remarked, without looking round.
The boys looked after her retreating figure.