CHAPTER IX
THE JUDGMENT
WHILE Andrew was starting over the hills in the darkness, the family had gathered in the hall. Master Mowbray had seen that the drawbridge was raised and that everything was safe for the night. Audry soon wondered what had become of Aline and after a time made an excuse to get away and went up to their room and down to the secret chamber. “Is not Aline here?” she queried.
“No,” said Ian, “she has not been down for a long time.”
Ian came towards Audry as she spoke. “Why? cannot you find her?” he said.
“No, she is not in the hall and not in our room.”
“Perhaps old Elspeth knows.”
“I had forgotten her for the moment,” and Audry’s face brightened up. “I will run and find her.” This she did at once but Aline had not been seen.
At length Audry felt that she must tell the others. So she came back to the great hall and told Master Mowbray that Aline had disappeared.
“’Sdeath,” he exclaimed, “what has happened to her; call the men at once, run, Audry.”
“Oddsfish man,” said Mistress Mowbray, “one would think the child was an infant that could not take care of itself,—making such a fuss as that! And I do not see that it would be so very great a matter if she were lost. Why, you make as much a to-do about her as though she were your own daughter. The hussie is up to mischief and she will see that she does herself no harm.”