"Who's she? and who are you?" asked the carter.
"Have you ever heard of Mecklemburg House?"
"What, the school? Be you from the school? Well, you're a pretty couple, the pair of you. What little game are you up to now--running away? Won't they lay it into you!" The carter grinned; he was not aware that corporal punishment was interdicted at Mecklemburg House, and already seemed to see the "laying in" in his mind's eye.
"We--weren't running--away!" wept Griffin. "We've lost our way."
"Lost your way! Well, I never! That's a good one!" The carter seemed to doubt the statement.
"We have lost our way," said Ellis.
"Look here! for a couple of pins I'll take you by the scruff of your necks and walk you back myself, if you come any of your games on me."
From his tone and manner the carter seemed to be indignant. Griffin stared--as well as he could through his tears and the slime--and Ellis stared, being both at a loss to understand his indignation.
"Coming with your tales to me, telling me you've lost your way, with the school just across the road."
His hearers stared still more.