“And I must hurry back,” said the fisher-lad. And almost before they could thank him or say good-night, he had disappeared again in the fast-gathering gloom.
It seemed to the children as Miss Hortensia kissed them that years had passed since they had seen her or their home.
“Haven’t you been dreadfully lonely without us all this time, dear cousin?” said Mavis.
“No, dears, not particularly so. It is a little later than usual, but when Winfried ran back to tell me he would bring you safe home, he said it might be so.”
“Was it only this afternoon we went?” said Ruby wonderingly.
Miss Hortensia looked at her anxiously.
“My dear, are you very tired? You seem half asleep.”
“I am rather sleepy,” said Ruby. “Please may we go to bed at once.”
“Certainly. I will tell Ulrica to take your supper upstairs. I do hope you haven’t caught cold. We must shut the door;” for they were standing all this time at the entrance under the archway. “Bertrand is behind you, I suppose?”
The little girls looked at each other.