"Wild kittens make solemn cats," quoted Miss Barbara, who never liked to hear any one find fault with Marion. "I mean to let her have French lessons if I can, seeing her heart is set on it, but I will talk the matter over with Miss Oliver first."
"Did she say that Tone Beaubien's daughter had gone home?" asked Alick. "I hoped Mrs. Tremaine would keep her. She is a likely lass."
"I believe she has only gone home to stay over Sunday. I wonder if her father will ever come back?"
"I have my suspicions that he has been back, if he is not looking about now," said Alick, in a low tone.
"He would never dare to show himself, surely?"
"Not openly, of course, but I am very much mistaken if I did not see him up on Blue Hill yesterday when I was looking for the colt. He has grown a beard if it was he, but the upper part of his face is not easily changed."
"You must be careful, Alick," said his sister, anxiously. "You know he owes you a special grudge."
"Never fear," said Alick, lightly. "He values his neck too much to run any risks or make any stir in these parts."
"I wonder whether his wife knows it?"
"There is no telling. I have sometimes thought there might be some reason for her preferring to live by herself in that lonesome place."