garden echoed with the sound of a girl's voice crying, "Cuckoo,
cuckoo," and the white dresses flew over the sward, and the young men
ran after them and caught them. They were playing hide and seek.
Excited beyond endurance, Triss barked loudly, and forms were seen
flying precipitately.

"Tie him up to this tree," said Maggie.

"No, no, better take him to the house," said Frank; "it would make him
savage to tie him up."

When the ninth bottle of champagne had been opened, and the supper
table was noisy, Frank whispered to Maggie, "Did you ever see
_Macbeth_?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Because I can't help thinking what a splendid occasion it would be
for Banquo's ghost to appear."

Maggie pressed his hand and laughed.

Soon after the sound of wheels was heard. Grace turned pale, Sally
said: "Who would have thought it?" A moment after Mr. Brookes, with
Berkins and Willy behind him, entered. He stood amazed, and seeing
that the tears were mounting to his eyes, Maggie said: "Father, how
tired and faint you look. We thought you wouldn't be coming home to-
night. Do sit down and have a glass of wine." But neither winning
words nor ways could soothe this storm, and in reply to a question
from Berkins, Mr. Brookes declared passionately that he knew none of