“We have not seen him for ever so long,” they replied.
“He would not stay with me,” said Ruby.
“I thought perhaps we should find him here,” said Mavis.
Miss Hortensia looked more annoyed than anxious. “I suppose he will find his way back before long,” she said. “Bad pennies always turn up. But he is a most troublesome boy. I wish I had asked Winfried what to do—”
“I don’t think he could have done anything,” said Mavis. “But—I’m sure Bertrand is safe. What’s the matter, Ulrica?”
For at that moment—they were on their way upstairs by this time—the young maid-servant came flying to meet them, her face pale, her eyes gleaming with fear.
“Oh,” she cried, “I am glad the young ladies are safe back. Martin has seen the blue light in the west turret; he was coming from the village a few minutes ago, and something made him look up. It is many and many a year since it has been seen, not since the young ladies were babies, and it always—”
“Stop, Ulrica,” said Miss Hortensia sharply. “It is very wrong of you to come startling us in that wild way, and the young ladies so tired as you see. Call Bertha and Joseph. You take the children to their room, and see that they are warm and comfortable. I will myself go up to the west turret with the others and put a stop to these idle tales.”
But Ruby and Mavis pressed forward. A strange thought had struck them both.
“Oh cousin, let us go too,” they said. “We are not a bit frightened.”