"If you please, ma'am," she said, "I think I'd rather tell you all about it afterwards. It's not late, but Miss Hoodie must be tired. Won't it be as well, ma'am, for her to go to bed at once?"
Mrs. Caryll understood Martin's manner.
"Yes," she said. "I think it will. Say good night to me, Hoodie, and to Maudie and your brothers. And to-morrow morning you must come early to my room. I want to talk to you."
Hoodie looked up curiously in her mother's face. Was she vexed, or sorry, or what? Hoodie could not decide.
"Good night, mother," she said, quietly. "Good night, Hec and Duke and Maudie," and she coolly turned away, and followed Martin up-stairs.
The three other children crept round their mother. She looked pale and troubled.
"Mamma," said one of the little boys, "has Hoodie been naughty? Aren't you glad she's come home?"
Mrs. Caryll stroked his head.
"Yes, dear," she said. "Of course I'm glad, very glad. But it wasn't good of her to frighten us all so, and I must make her understand that."
"Of course," said Maudie, virtuously. "You don't understand, Hec."