manly Johnnie, turning to Lady Rosamond, "I beg your pardon in the most
humble manner, feeling deeply sorry."

"Lady Rosamond you really do not think I would consciously give you
annoyance," said master Johnnie, throwing down the bough which he had
lopped from a tree near, and drawing up his boyish form with true
dignity and an amusing earnestness in his tone.

"Of course not, Johnnie," returned her ladyship, "you and I are on the
best of terms. Nothing that you say or do gives me any annoyance; on the
contrary, it always amuses me."

This last speech of Lady Rosamond had surprised Mary Douglas. Apparently
engaged in selecting the most suitable branches of fir and spruce, she
was more intently occupied in the study of her own thoughts. She was
wondering why the mention of the brook adventure had caused that look
which, notwithstanding protests to the contrary, recalled something
disagreeable to Lady Rosamond.

Being interrupted in these thoughts by her brother Fred's arrival with a
request to go home, Mary Douglas joined the merry party, each bearing
some burden as part of the spoil, while Johnnie collected and piled a
large heap to be conveyed thither when necessary.

On arriving in the courtyard, Johnnie set up three lusty cheers which
brought out Lady Douglas, accompanied by Mr. Howe and Lieutenant
Trevelyan.

"Thought you were on parade this morning, Mr. Trevelyan," exclaimed the
pioneer Johnnie, "else you might have formed another of our party."