'I will be coming as soon as I can be sparing the time, you may be sure of that, Miss Marjorie,' replied the lad with a smile. The dogs were recalled from the rabbit-holes and came, their faces covered with sand, and the boat was pushed off from the shore. Half-way across the firth, Marjorie turned and looked back regretfully. 'What a pity we have to go home,' she said. 'It would be awfully jolly to spend all night in the cottage.' 'Look to your oar, Marjorie,' sang out Allan, for the boat was beginning to turn round. In a short time they reached the landing-stones, of which the lower ones were already submerged. 'Won't you all look in and see Mother before you go home?' suggested Neil, after the boat had been drawn up and secured to the mooring-chain. 'She'd be pleased if you'd come and say good evening to her; and Miss Tricksy, you would be seeing the little puffins that Hamish gave you; Mother tells me that they're coming along finely.' Mrs. Macdonnell's cottage was not far distant, and the young people accepted Neil's invitation. 'I'll just tell Mother that you're here,' said Neil, lifting the latch and vanishing in the interior of the cottage. 'I wonder who Mrs. Macdonnell has with her,' said Allan, in an undertone. 'I hear voices inside. Perhaps we had better not go in this evening.' They waited for some time; but still no one came to bid them enter. 'This is strange,' said Marjorie. 'I wonder whether Neil has forgotten us.' The door was pushed half open, and Neil's face looked out of the aperture, with his mother's behind him. Both appeared agitated, and Neil looked at the others as though he did not see them. CHAPTER III A SURPRISE 'Allan,' said Mrs. Stewart, coming downstairs, 'your father has to go to Stornwell and will not be back until to-morrow, so there will be no cricket match this afternoon. I have a note from Mrs. MacGregor, asking you all to spend the day at Corranmore instead.' 'All right, Mother,' replied Allan; 'when are we to be there?' 'Mrs. MacGregor asks you to come early,' said Mrs. Stewart, consulting the letter; 'I had better send you in the dog-cart, as it's rather far to walk. Duncan is driving your father to the steamer, but he won't be long.' 'Don't bother about the dog-cart, Mother,' said Allan; 'it would be much jollier to walk; and we'd like to look in at Mrs. Macdonnell's cottage on the way and ask what's the matter with Neil. We haven't seen him for a day or two.' 'I wouldn't go there to-day, I think,' interposed Mrs. Stewart hurriedly. 'I don't think Neil will be at home. I'm afraid the walk would be too much for Tricksy,' she went on quickly, for the young people were looking surprised. 'Not if we start now, I think, Mother, and give Tricksy a rest now and again. What do you say, Tricksy?' 'Of course I can walk,' said Tricksy. 'I shan't be a bit tired, Mother.' Mrs. Stewart looked at her little daughter with a smile.