Are you ready for your breakfast?"

"Not just yet. I thought of taking a little walk first."

"All right, sir. I wish I could go with you; but I have got my work to
do this morning, and Silas has his work too. If you go back by the way
you came, you will find yourself in the garden. If you want to go
further, the wicket-gate at the end will lead you into the lane."

Through sheer thoughtlessness, I did a very foolish thing. I turned
back as I was told, and left the brothers together at the gate of the
stable-yard.


CHAPTER V.

THE NEWS FROM NARRABEE.

ARRIVED at the garden, a thought struck me. The cheerful speech and
easy manner of Ambrose plainly indicated that he was ignorant thus far
of the quarrel which had taken place under my window. Silas might
confess to having taken his brother's stick, and might mention whose
head he had threatened with it. It was not only useless, but
undesirable, that Ambrose should know of the quarrel. I retraced my
steps to the stable-yard. Nobody was at the gate. I called alternately
to Silas and to Ambrose. Nobody answered. The brothers had gone away to
their work.

Returning to the garden, I heard a pleasant voice wishing me
"Good-morning." I looked round. Naomi Colebrook was standing at one of