the large and capable Laddie. Most likely she would come back
presently with some simple explanation to account for everything.

"I think she has gone for a walk. She got down somehow and ran off
to give Hugh a fright. Let's go and look for her along the road,"
was Mollie's next proposal.

"If she has gone for a walk she will most likely come home by the
lane, unless she went over to the parklands--oh, I wish she would
come back! She never goes out alone in town, because she is
frightened of meeting Things. She says there are all sorts of Things
in town. Once she got lost in a big crowd, and I think it made her
rather nervous. Besides, Mamma will be angry if she is not home when
they come in, and we'll get such scoldings." Prudence sighed and
looked longingly towards the white gate, but there was no sign of
the wanderer's return.

"Suppose we go to the Look-out and reconnoitre, and if we see her we
can go and meet her," said Mollie.

This seemed a good idea, so they climbed the ladder once more, and,
one behind the other, scrambled to the top of the tree. But twilight
was already creeping over the land--the brief Australian twilight
which turns to darkness so quickly. It was impossible to see any
distance, and the girls were turning their backs on the flagpole
when Prudence stopped with an exclamation:

"I think I will light the lantern. Grizzel will see it from a long
way off. Look in the house for matches, Mollie, while I turn the red
glasses both ways."