There was a light still burning in the lodge, and Harry went boldly up and knocked at the door. It was opened by Charles Warren himself, who looked the tall burly figure up and down. "If you're Henry Whittaker," he said, "walk in, and we'll hear what you've got to say." "I thank you kindly," said Harry; "I shouldn't have intruded, but I've brought back my sister, who--" "Mercy on us, Florrie!" exclaimed Mrs Warren, coming forward, while Wyn, looking very pale and red-eyed, with a large patch of brown paper on his nose, almost fell upon Florence. "Oh, Florrie I have they sent you home in disgrace, for--for thinking Mr Alwyn was a poacher? It's all over now, and we've been the ruin of everything, and Mr Edgar's heart will be broke, and all through me." "It ain't ruined at all," said Florence, "and I've found the letter for you, and here it is." "That's nothing near so bad as the other letter what master's got!" said poor Wyn. "Now shut up, Wyn," said his father. "Mr Alwyn's at the house, and the matter's out of your hands, which never ought to have been mixed up in it. Get you to bed at once. And what has brought Florence back again?" "I went and carried on with Jim Blake and young Benson, and I set 'em on thinking the men in the wood were poachers, and when I found the letter in Miss Lily's pocket, and saw it was Mr Alwyn and my brother, I thought I'd better run away than have their deaths on my shoulders. But I was settling down, Aunt Charlotte, I was indeed, and folding up the clothes quite regular." "Could a note be sent to tell the lady what is become of her?" said Harry. "I'll go myself if that's all; but it's late, perhaps, to disturb them with a long story." "I'll take the note," said Ned Warren, who had been standing in the background, "if Bessie 'll write it." Bessie accordingly indited a note in her mother's name, in which she begged to inform her ladyship that Florence Whittaker had come home, but that circumstances had occurred in part to excuse her and that she (Mrs Warren) would wait on her ladyship the next morning with a full explanation. This note despatched, Bessie good-naturedly went upstairs to bathe Wyn's face and to hear Florence's story, and to leave the elders free to come to an explanation with the returned stranger. "Would you be good enough," said Harry, "to tell me what has occurred as to Mr Cunningham?"