"How, suppose ye, our bird flew away?" muttered Squire Briggs.
"In sooth, I know not!" retorted Hawtree. "Was he ever here?"
Mehitable, smiling to herself, said nothing. But she paled when a man rushed in.
"One—one o' the horses be gone!" he announced excitedly.
Hawtree, however, looked at him indifferently. "Some boobie forgot to tie him. Doubtless he strayed!" he said sharply. And the fellow, red-faced, backed out of the room. With shrugs and grimaces of disappointment the other two soon followed.
"But, Nancy," cried Mehitable, a little later, when the two girls sat before the fire laughing and crying together, "how did ye ever think o't?"
"In truth, I scarcely know." Mistress Nancy looked into the fire with dreaming eyes. "Love will ever find a way, I think. I saw your mother's red cardinal upon her closet hook and at once the plan came to me. Enveloped in such a cloak and with pretense of cold to help him, I was sure John could escape. Did he not make a splendid woman, Hitty!"
"Aye, wonderful!" agreed the little sister.
"But I think," went on Mistress Nancy softly, "I like him better as a man!"
They were silent for a happy moment. Then Mehitable began to laugh. Mistress Nancy turned sympathetic eyes upon her.
"What be laughing at?" she asked smilingly.
