“‘Yes, you are—just as important as any of us,’ said Taygeta.
“‘And we’ve been almost crazy, missing you,’ said Cassiopeia. ‘Even Major had the fidgets. I think our feelings ought to be considered.’
“‘I know it. I’m sorry now. I didn’t think of that.’
“‘But tell us what you did,’ said Orion. It seemed almost impossible to keep them to the subject.
“‘I will. You know the place—off that way,’ and she pointed over the river. ‘I knew all I had to do was to keep going straight on until I came there. So I slipped off quietly, when you were all busy.’
“‘If I’d seen you start, you wouldn’t have gone,—unless I went too,’ said Hercules. ‘It wasn’t safe—a girl all alone.’
“‘But what happened? Did anything frighten you?’
“‘No. Only the dark, and cold.’
“‘Dark! Was it really dark, Merope?’
“‘Well—I never heard anything like that!’ said Cassiopeia.