“I know you weren’t really, Ronnie. But, please, oh! please, keep away from the river.”
“Very well, dear,” I promised, “I will, unless an urgent duty takes me there. We must solve this mystery somehow, and it may mean my going to the river. But I promise not to run any unnecessary risks.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him and see that he takes care of himself, Miss McLeod,” said Dennis, coming to the rescue.
“Thank you, Mr. Burnham,” the girl replied, “but you know it applies to you as well. You must look after yourself also.”
“By the way, dear,” I asked, changing the subject, “have you a copy of this week’s Pictures?”
“I’m afraid not,” she answered. “Must it be the Pictures? I’ve just been looking at another illustrated paper.”
“Looking at what?” I cried, jumping to my feet. “Darling, who’s talking about running risks?”
“Oh, it’s all right, dear,” she assured me. “I got Mary to bring my dark-room lamp down to the den and just glanced at the pictures by the red light. But I won’t do it again, if it alarms you, dear. All the same, I’m quite sure I could see by daylight.”
“You promised Garnesk you wouldn’t till you heard from him, darling,” I urged. “It might be very dangerous, so please don’t for my sake.”
“Very well, then,” Myra sighed, “I’ll try to be good. But I hope he’ll write soon.”