As it was already late, as soon as Norman's clothes were dried old Alec put them on him again, with Fanny's assistance, and little Robby having in the meantime washed the carriage, they were ready to start. Robby, as before, had to take care of the house while old Alec insisted on accompanying his young visitors. "You know, Miss Fanny, you must carry the bird, and we shall be able to get over the ground faster if I drag the carriage." Fanny was very glad to agree to this arrangement, for as Norman was in a bad humour she could not tell how he might behave to her, but she knew that he would be quiet if old Alec was with her. They accordingly set off, Robby giving them a parting cheer. They went on pretty fast, Norman having to hold himself into the carriage as it bumped and thumped over the rough ground. As Fanny had to carry the bird-cage, Alec went the whole way to the yard at the back of Glen Tulloch. Norman scarcely thanking him, jumped out, and ran into the house. "Oh! do stop, Mr Morrison, till my mamma, and granny, and Mrs Maclean can see you," said Fanny, "they will wish to thank you, as I do, and as Norman was much frightened, I hope that they will not think it necessary to punish him." "But I did nothing worth speaking of," answered old Alec, "and so just give my respects to the ladies, and tell them that I would have been happy to have had a talk with them if they had wished, but I must go back to look after my little boy, for I never like to be away from him longer than I can help. Bless you, young lady! it does my heart good to see you, so pray come and pay me a visit whenever you can." The old man hurried away, and Fanny ran in to show her bird, hoping that no questions would be asked her about Norman's behaviour till she had persuaded him, as she wished to do, to tell his own story, so that old Alec and Robby might be properly thanked for the service they had rendered him. CHAPTER EIGHT. THE PET BIRD. "O mamma! granny! Mrs Maclean! see what a beautiful bird old Alec has given me!" exclaimed Fanny, as she ran into the drawing-room, and went round exhibiting the little prisoner, first to one and then to the other. "He has been so kind too, he showed us all his other birds, and gave us such an interesting account of the way he got one of them, but I would rather have this one than all the others." The bird was duly admired. "Where is Norman?" asked Mrs Vallery. "He ran into the house before me, I suppose he will soon be here." Norman, however, did not come immediately, and at last Mrs Vallery went to look for him. She found him in his room rubbing away at his clothes. "What has happened?" she asked; "why did you not come into the drawing-room at once?" "I tumbled down in the mud and dirtied my clothes, so I wanted to clean them," answered Norman, and he said no more.