The Children of the Castle

by Mrs. Molesworth

shore," Ruby replied. "We may," she went on, with avery slight glance in Bertrand's direction, and a tone in her voicewhich struck Mavis oddly, though she scarcely knew why--"we _may_ meetWinfried."

  "Yes," said Bertrand in an off-hand way. "I told the fellow we might besomewhere about if it was fine to-day, and I said he might as well havehis boat ready. I don't mind paying him for the use of it. I've anyamount of pocket-money;" and he thrust his hands into his pockets,jingling the coins which were in them.

  Mavis thought to herself that she had never disliked him as much as now.But she said nothing, and they all three walked on. The pathway soonbecame steep and rugged, as I have told you. Ruby and Mavis wereaccustomed to it, and Bertrand was a strong, well-made boy. Still noneof them were agile and nimble as the fisher-lad.

  "You should see Winfried running down here," said Ruby; "he goes like astag, or a chamois, rather."

  She glanced at Bertrand as she spoke. Notwithstanding her alliance withhim, there was something in Ruby's nature that made it impossible forher to resist vexing him by this little hit.

  The black look came over the boy's face.

  "What do you mean by that?" he muttered. "I'm not going to--"

  "Rubbish, Bertrand," interrupted Ruby. "I never said anything about_you_. Winfried's a fisher-boy; it's his business to scramble about."

  Then she went close up to her cousin and whispered something to him,which seemed to smooth him down, though this only made Mavis moreanxious and unhappy.

  CHAPTER EIGHT.

  A NAUGHTY PLAN.

  "The boatie rows, the boatie rows, the boatie rows fu' weel."

  Ewen.

  They were nearly at the cove, when they caught sight of a scarlet capmoving up and down among the rocks.

  "There's Winfried," cried Mavis joyfully. She could not help having afeeling of safety when the fisher-lad was with them, in spite of herfears about the mischief the other two were planning. "Winfried,Winfried," she called, "here we are."

  He glanced up with his bright though rather mysterious smile.

  "I knew you'd be coming," he said quietly.

  "Of course you did," said Bertrand in his rough, rude way, "consideringI told you to meet us here. Have you got that boat of yours ready?"

  "Yes," said Winfried, and he pointed towards the cove. There, sureenough, was the little boat, bright and dainty, the sun shining on itspretty cushions and on the white glistening oars.

  Bertrand was running forward, when there came a sudden exclamation fromRuby. She had put up her hand to her neck.

  "Oh, my cross," she cried, "my little silver cross. I forgot to fetchit from the turret-room. I left it there last night, and I meant to goand get it this morning. And I daren't go on the sea without it--I'd bedrowned, I know I should be."

  Mavis looked at her.

  "Ruby," she said, "I don't, think you could have left it up there. Youhad no reason to take it off up there."

  "Oh, but I did, I did," said Ruby. "I have a trick of taking it off;the cord gets entangled in my hair. I know it's there."

  "I'll fetch it you," said Bertrand, with perfectly astoundinggood-nature. And he actually set off up the rocky path. Winfriedstarted forward.

  "I will go," he said. "I can run much faster than he," and he hastenedafter Bertrand.

  But Bertrand had exerted himself unusually. He was already some way upbefore Winfried overtook him.

  "No," he said, when Winfried explained why he had come, "I want to go.But you may as well come too. I want to carry down my fishing-tackle--I'd forgotten it. You haven't got any in the boat, I suppose?"

  "No," said Winfried, "it would keep us out too long. It's too cold forthe little ladies, and we should have to go too far out to sea."

  "I'll bring it all the same," said Bertrand doggedly; "so mind your ownbusiness." But as Winfried walked on beside him without speaking, headded more civilly, "you may as well look at it and tell me if it's theright kind. It's what my father gave me."

  "I'm pretty sure it's not right," said Winfried. "The fishing here isquite different to anything you've ever seen. And any way we cannotkeep your cousins waiting while we look at it."

  They were at the arched entrance by now.

  "Well, then," said Bertrand, "you run up and look for the cross. Noneed for two of us to tire our legs. I'll wait here."

  Winfried entered the castle, and after one or two wrong turnings foundhimself on the right stair. He knew pretty exactly where he had to go,for he had often looked up at the west turret from the outside. Butjust as he got to the door he was overtaken by Bertrand, who hadnaturally come straight up without any wrong turnings.

  "What a time you've been," said Bertrand, pushing in before him. "Now,let's see--where did Ruby say she'd left her cross? Oh yes, hanging upthere; she must have stood on a chair to reach it." And sure enough, ona nail pretty high up on the wall hung the little ornament.

  Winfried drew forward a chair; in another minute he had reached down thecross.

  "Here it is," he said, turning to Bertrand. But--he spoke to the air!Bertrand was gone. Winfried's face flushed; but he controlled himself.He walked quietly to the door and turned the handle. It did not open.It was locked from the outside. He was a prisoner!

  "I knew something of the kind would come," he said to himself. "Whatwill they do now? Poor little Mavis! I must trust her to theprincess."

  But he could not help a feeling of bitter anger. It was no lightpunishment to the active energetic boy to have to spend all the brightafternoon hours shut up here like an old owl in a church tower. And heknew that till some one came to let him out, a prisoner he verily was.For he might have shouted his voice hoarse, no one down below could haveheard him. And the chance of any one in the castle coming up was verysmall.

  "What will gran think?" he said to himself.

  "And, if these naughty children try to play him any trick. I know Rubymore than half believes all that nonsense about his being a wizard andabout the mermaids, and Bertrand will egg her on."

  He went to the window and stood looking out, trying to keep down thedreadful restless _caged_ feeling which began to come over him.

  "How can I bear it?" he said. "If I had tools now, and could pick thelock; but some of these old locks are very strong, and I have nothing.If only I had wings;" and he gazed again out of the window.

  When he turned round, though it was quite bright and sunny outside, italmost seemed as if the evening haze had somehow got into the roombefore its time. It was filled with a thin bluish mist. Winfried'seyes brightened.

  "My princess!" he exclaimed. "Are you there?" A little laugh answeredhim, and gradually the mist drew together and into shape, andForget-me-not stood before him.

  "My boy," she exclaimed, "I am surprised at you. Why, you were lookingquite depressed!"

  Winfried reddened.

  "It was the horrid feeling of being locked up," he said. "I never feltit before, and--it seems such a shame, such a mean trick. I wouldn'thave minded a stand-up fight with any fellow, but--"

  "Of course you wouldn't; but you've got a good bit farther than _that_,I hope, Winfried," she said with a smile. "And besides, Bertrand ismuch smaller than you. But it had to be, you know. I have explainedenough to you--you and little Mavis;--it had to be."

  Winfried started.

  "That's another thing," he said. "I am uneasy about her. What willthey do? They don't understand the boat, you know, princess, and she isalone with them."

  Forget-me-not smiled again.

  "How faithless you are to-day, Winfried," she said. "Mavis will begetting before you if you don't take care, simple and ignorant as sheis. Can't you trust her to me?" And as the boy's face brightened.

  "Come," she said, "I see you are recovering your usual ground, so I willtell you how I am going to do. But first, shut your eyes, Winfried; andhere, wrap the end of my scarf round you. You might feel giddy still,though it's not the first time. Ready?--that
's right--there now, giveme your hand--we're up on the window ledge. You were wishing forwings--isn't this as good as wings?"

  Bertrand rushed down--as much as he could rush, that is to say, over thesteep and rough path--to the shore where the sisters were waiting.

  "Have you got it?" asked Mavis eagerly.

  "What?" asked Bertrand, out of breath.

  "_What_? Why, Ruby's cross, of course, that you went for.