But Orchard Glen had to learn that they could not keep Gavin quite to
themselves. A reporter from one of the Algonquin weekly papers came
out to the village; and later a couple of representatives of Toronto
papers. They all had dinner at Craig-Ellachie and they took pictures
of the old house, and of the three Aunties in the garden, and another
of Auntie Elspie spinning in the door way. And they carried off a
photograph of Gavin in his Highland bonnet and kilt, and it was all
published in a great page of the Saturday issue, the pictures of the
beautiful old home, and the thrilling tale of Gavin's glorious deed,
with his picture in the centre of it all, and underneath his
battle-cry, "Stand Fast, Craig-Ellachie!"
And the Aunties were so proud and happy, that they could neither eat
nor sleep, but just wandered about the house and garden in a happy daze.
And through all the interviews, not one of the clever, keen-scented
reporters, discovered that the hero had been just a poor waif from an
Orphan Asylum that Auntie Elspie had plucked as a brand from the
furnace of Skinflint Jenkins's cruelty.
The Grant Girls were eager to guard the secret, but that required some
finesse of which they were entirely incapable. But Mrs. Johnnie Dunn
was equal to any occasion, and she managed to be at Craig-Ellachie
during the interviews. She kept close to the reporters, answering all
their questions, and forestalling any that might be embarrassing.
Without making any direct statements that might hurt the tender
consciences of the Aunties, she led the newspaper men gently along a
train of thought that ended in the firm impression that Gavin was the
only child of their brother, with all his virtues and many more of his
own. It was a subtle suggestion of The Woman's that made the youngest
reporter notice a strong resemblance between Gavin's photograph and
Aunt Janet. And indeed The Woman made such a fine story for the
visitors, encouraging them along any and every bypath that their
imagination might suggest, that not even Auntie Elspie could recognise
her quiet, unassuming, reticent boy in the prancing warrior that Mrs.
Johnnie Dunn permitted the representatives of the press to create.
The discovery of the perfidy of Algonquin in trying to steal Gavin made
some re-arrangement for his reception necessary. As he was to be met
at the quiet little nook in the swamp, instead of the noisy station at
Algonquin, young Mrs. Martin made her second suggestion. It was that
they have their programme and addresses of welcome right there in the
open, beside the Silver Creek, and the more informal part, the supper,
and some of the performances by the children, on their return.