"By no means," said Frederica, as she knocked. "We are going to see Mistress Campbell; who used to be so good to Tessie and me when we were at school. And you must not look surprised at anything you may see. And, Hubert dear, you will be a good boy, won't you?" "Oh, yes, of course. Why should I not be good?" said Hubert impatiently. "Eh, Missy! is this you?" exclaimed the old woman, holding up her hands in astonishment. "And this is your wee brother?--a bonny laddie, but--" Mistress Campbell could not finish her sentence; for, excited and tired beyond her strength, Frederica burst into tears. "My bairn! what is it?" said Eppie. "To think of my folly in speiring that I after all that has come to you and yours, since we saw you here. But, my dear, you have no cause to grieve--for your mama--" Frederica put up her hand to stop her. "No--I am glad for mama--but--I am frightened--and tired." "Sit down and rest you, my bairn," said her old friend tenderly. "Go away yonder to your window, and I'll make acquaintance with your brother here--a fine lad he is." Hubert, though a little startled at the sight of Frederica's tears, had never taken his eyes from the small brown wrinkled face of the old woman, and he met her look with an undisguised curiosity and wonder that amused her. "Your wee brother, did I say? No, this must be the elder of the two-- and a fine well-grown lad he is," said Mistress Campbell admiringly. "No, Charlie is bigger than I am," said Hubert gravely. "Dear me! I ay thought Miss Frederica's brothers were but wee boys; but you have had time to grow, it's true, since I have been in the way of hearing about you. You're near hand as big as Miss Frederica herself." This was not saying very much, but it won the good-will of Hubert, whether she meant it to do so or not. And some interesting confidences followed on his part, in the midst of which his sister found him, when she recovered herself. "And you'll bide to your tea with me," said Mistress Campbell. "I'm sore failed since you were here, Miss Frederica, but I am not altogether helpless yet. So you'll bide still a wee while." But Frederica was not sure that they ought to stay. "First, I must tell you why we came," said she. She told the story hurriedly, and it was doubtful whether Mrs Campbell followed her closely through it all. She understood, however, that Miss Tessie had been "spirited away," as she called it, and that from some dread mysterious fate Frederica had courageously rescued her little brother, and that in some way she was relied on for help.