"We're here if we're wanted," said Jane robustly.
"And somehow," said Flora, "I think we shall be wanted."
Mrs. Barraclough's hands went out and she drew the two girls a little closer.
"My dears," she said, "I don't know why but lately I've had a pringly sort of feeling—as if something were going to happen. It's a sense of adventure perhaps. I used to be a very wild girl myself."
"But you mustn't worry," said Isabel. "It's sure to turn out all right, you know."
"I'm not worrying. I'm only hoping that if anything does happen I shall be in it."
"But look here," exclaimed Flora, "that's the very thing he wants to prevent."
"Yes, yes, but I know my Anthony, bless him. It would be so beautiful to help him again after all these years." She smiled retrospectively. "When he was a little boy he was always coming into conflict with his father. Poor Mr. Barraclough, he was a very austere man and Anthony's scrapes inspired from him the severest judgments. Tony had a little signal—he was much too proud to speak—he used to take out his pocket handkerchief and quite carelessly tie a knot in the centre. Whenever he did that I used to come to his aid. Dear Tony, I was always the one to rescue him from difficulty."
"He gets his pluck from you," said Flora.
"His father was a brave man too, until he had a little misfortune with a mule which rather upset his balance."