Mrs McNab planted the scones in the centre of the table, and gathered together the soiled plates with a wooden stolidity. To all appearances she might not have heard a word that had been said. Margot seized the hot-water-jug, and shivered ostentatiously, trusting to pity to prevail where guile had failed; and sure enough the pale blue eye turned on her like a flash of steel. "What's ailing ye with the water-jug?" "I'm ailing myself!" returned Margot meekly. "So cold! I can't get warm. Tired out after the long journey." She tried her best to look delicate and fragile, but the healthy bloom on her cheeks contradicted her words, and the landlady's reply showed no softening of heart. "Cramped, more like! Better go ye're ways for a guid sharp trot, to bring the blood back to your veins. Ye'll be in time for the afternoon's post; but unless ye're expecting news of your own, ye needna fash for the rest. Mr Elgood's gane to fetch them." "Mr Elgood?" Information had come at last, and in the most unexpected fashion. "The gentleman we have been watching?" The thin lips lifted with a suspicion of scorn. "Oh, him! That's just the brither. The real Mr Elgood's away till the village. You passed it on the road." She disappeared into the "lobby," and brother and sister nodded at each other solemnly, the while they munched the hot buttered scones. "We'll go! As soon as we have finished. I long to see what he is like. I'm glad it is not--" Margot nodded towards the window, and Ron assented with a lofty superiority-- "Yes--he is not the type! A good sort, no doubt, but hardly an intellectual leader. One could not imagine him writing those grand articles." "He may be useful, though, for he looks a friendly little soul, and if we get intimate with him we must know his brother, too... These scones are the most delectable things! Do you think She will be shocked if we eat them all? I feel a conviction that I shall get into the way of calling her `She'--with a capital S. `She who must be obeyed!' I thought She would be softened by the sight of me hugging the jug, and offer to light a fire at once; but not a bit of it! Her cure was much more drastic. I'll accept it this time, as it suits my purpose, but when to-morrow comes,--we'll see!" Margot nodded her head meaningly, pushed her chair back from the table, and picked up the golf cape which lay over the back of a chair. "After all, I believe `She' is right! It will do us good to have a scamper, and the unpacking can wait until the light goes." She peered discreetly through the window, and held up a detaining hand. "Wait a moment until the `Brither' has turned back towards the village. Then we'll sally out of the door and meet him face to face."