'No good, I'll warrant; and don't get mixing up with it,' was the butler's parting remark as he released her.
Naomi sped across the park; but what was her surprise to see ahead of her, running as fast as she could, another mill-lass! Naomi made after her quickly, meaning, if she were a friend, to ask what was doing in Ousebank, and, if not, to demand her business at Balmoral. 'Wait a bit, lass,' she called out when she got near enough to be heard; but the girl only ran on faster. She was tall and slender, and not unlike Jane Mary, Naomi's sister; and the thought struck Naomi that if it was her sister, she was after no good. 'Jane Mary,' she shouted, 'if you don't stop I'll heave this stone at you!'
The figure in front stopped at this threat, and turned.
'Miss Sarah! I beg your pardon, miss; I didn't know you,' cried Naomi in surprise.
'Now that you do know me, and see that I mean to go to Ousebank, perhaps you'll drop that stone—it might have killed me if it had fallen on my head—and let me walk beside you instead of in front.'
Noami looked rather guiltily at the stone in her hand, and dropped it, saying apologetically, 'I thought it might be some one up to no good. But do you suppose they won't know you, miss?'
'You didn't,' observed Sarah with a laugh.
'Not your back; but all Ousebank knows your face, and they'll maybe turn nasty to you,' Naomi warned her.
'They'll be too busy to stare at a mill-lass, and I shall keep as well behind you as I can.'
Naomi looked doubtfully at her mistress. 'Perhaps if you were to tie this handkerchief round your face, as if you'd got toothache, you'd pass better,' she suggested, handing Sarah a large white pocket-handkerchief with a coloured border.