“Oh, it is all my stupid fault, Mr. Dunn,” said Miss Brodie. “Let him come along a bit with us. I say, youngster, you are much too acute,” she continued, as they went striding along together toward Mr. Rae's office. “But will you believe me if I tell you something? Will you? Straight now?”
The boy glanced up into her honest blue eyes, and nodded his head.
“Your friend Cameron is quite all right. He was in some difficulty, but now he's quite all right. Do you believe me?”
The boy looked again steadily into her eyes. The anxious fear passed out of his face, and once more he nodded; he knew he could not keep his voice quite steady. But after a few paces he said to his brother, “I think I'll go now, Jack.” His mind was at rest; his idol was safe.
“Oh, come along and protect me,” cried Miss Brodie. “These lawyer people terrify me.”
The boy smiled a happy smile. “I'll go,” he said resolutely.
“Thanks, awfully,” said Miss Brodie. “I shall feel so much safer with you in the waiting room.”
It was a difficult matter to surprise Mr. Rae, and even more difficult to extract from him any sign of surprise, but when Dunn, leaving Miss Brodie and his brother in the anteroom, entered Mr. Rae's private office and laid the letter for Mr. Sheratt before him, remarking, “This letter is from Sir Archibald, and withdraws the prosecution,” Mr. Rae stood speechless, gazing now at the letter in his hand, and now at Mr. Dunn's face.
“God bless my soul! This is unheard of. How came you by this, Sir?”
“Miss Brodie—” began Dunn.