The afternoon passed rather slowly. Hugh might be back about five o'clock, and they were too anxious to hear how he had got on to be able to settle down to any occupation. They played croquet until all their tempers were hopelessly lost, even Prudence accusing Mollie of cheating. As if a Guide ever cheated under any circumstances whatsoever! After each girl in turn had thrown down her mallet and declared that she wouldn't play, Dick swiftly defeated Jerry, the party recovered its tempers, and they were sitting down to play "I met a One-horned Lady always Genteel" when the garden-gate clicked and Hugh appeared. Now Dick and Jerry, each in his own mind, had suspected that Hugh would come back from his trip full of "swank", and each had decided that gently and politely, but very firmly, he would squash the swanker. But there was no sign of the conquering hero about Hugh. He came slowly up the garden path towards them, gloom and depression showing in every step that he took, and still more upon his face as he drew near. They looked at him expectantly, but he stood silently beside them, his shoulders stooping as though a load of care sat upon them, his usually clear eyes heavy and clouded, and the corners of his mouth turned down as if he had made up his mind never to smile again. "What's up?" asked Jerry at last. "Did the balloon bust, and you the sole survivor?" "Didn't my diamond bring you luck after all?" Grizzel questioned anxiously. "Sick, old bean?" inquired Dick sympathetically. "I think you'd better have tea right away," Prudence said, laying a motherly little hand on her brother's arm. "If he's got something bad to tell he'd better tell it," said Mollie. "Nothing cures care like giving it air." Hugh threw himself on the grass, hugged his legs with his arms, and, resting his chin on his knees, stared before him in stony silence. "Spit it out, old bus," Dick adjured him, "If you are in a scrape we are with you to a man--aren't we?" he asked the others. A chorus of agreement brought a flicker of light into the gloom of Hugh's face. "I have been the biggest ass in the world," he said. "If there is a bigger it would comfort me to meet him." Two brown hands were promptly outstretched, but Hugh shook his head: "Wait till you hear." He paused for a moment, looked nervously from side to side and then behind him: "I'm a murderer. Probably I shall be hanged. Unless I poison myself first." "Hugh!" Prudence exclaimed sharply, "don't make these horrible jokes. You know how Mamma hates them." "It isn't a joke, worse luck," Hugh groaned; "it's beastly true. Thank goodness Mamma is out of the way. Perhaps it can be hushed up so that she will never know the truth about the way I died." A look of consternation settled upon every face; whatever Hugh had done, it was plain that he was exceedingly unhappy. "Tell us," Jerry commanded briefly.