THOSE HIGH ROCKS.
AT last the unpleasant task was over, and Matilda, vowing vengeance
against everyone, returned to Dacre House. When they were alone, Cecil
and Molly looked at each other.
"How splendid you are, Cecil!" said Molly. "How can I ever thank you? I
can scarcely tell you what a load you have lifted from my mind."
"You must thank Jimmy, then," said Cecil. "I should never have
discovered the truth but for him."
"Your brother Jimmy?"
"Yes."
Molly raised her eyebrows.
"Really, you are quite enigmatical," she said. "How can Jimmy, who is
far away, have anything to do with the matter?"
"He is our detective," said Cecil, who was feeling so happy that she
felt inclined to skip. "I put the case before him, mentioning no names.
The wicked boy had the audacity to reply on a post card. The words of
the oracle were as follows: 'Look out for eavesdroppers.' That little
sentence gave me the clew; I took Matilda to the summerhouse, began
to talk over the occurrence, told her with all the emphasis I could
that you and Kate had sat together on the very bench where she and
I were then resting, when Kate made her confidence to you. Matilda,
fortunately for the non-success of her wicked plans, has a tell-tale
face. I soon got her into the center of a circle, and hedged her in.
Oh, it was a horrid business! How thankful I am that it is over!"
"I feel my heart as light as a feather once again," said Molly. "Let us
go at once to find Kate; she is sure to be returning from her botany
expedition by now. Cecil, you don't know what Kate was before this
cloud came over her; she was the life of the whole house. Oh, you will
love her as much as I do!"
"I'm quite sure I shall," answered Cecil. "I like her immensely
already. When I have forgiven her for doubting you, I dare say I shall
see that she is just as charming as you have described her."
"You have cured my headache," said Molly. "I can't stay indoors any
longer; let us go and meet Kate and the others."
The girls were soon out of doors. The day was a crisp one in late
October. There was a feeling of coming winter in the air, but all
nature was still peaceful and smiling. The trees still wore their
autumn dress; grand crimson and yellow robes decked the landscape.
Molly and Cecil walked some little distance. They soon found
themselves in the country. Suddenly Molly uttered an exclamation. Kate
and her companions were coming slowly to meet them.
"How tired Kitty looks!" said Molly. "Why, she quite lags behind the
others. I wonder what is the matter."
"Run up to her with that paper in your hand and tell her everything,"
said Cecil. "Get her to walk behind with you; your news will soon
revive her. Run at once, Molly; I will undertake to manage the other
girls."
Molly set wings to her feet. She soon joined the botanists, who stopped
and began to talk eagerly.
"I hope you've had success," said Molly. "Why, what's the matter, Kate?"
"Nothing," said Kate abruptly.
Her face was very pale; there were great black shadows under her eyes.
"We can't think what's the matter with her," said Lucy Rae, one of the
botanists. "She was as lively as the best of us until we were coming
home."
"I have a headache; it will soon pass off," said Kate. "Don't take any
notice of me; I shall soon be quite my ordinary self."
"I want to say something to you, Kate," said Molly suddenly.
Kate looked at her with irritation.
"I am not in the mood to discuss things," she said; "it is quite true
that I have a bad headache."
"I won't worry you, dear," said Molly, in her gentlest tones. "Let us
walk slowly behind the others."
Kate opened her lips to protest.
Then she changed her mind. She raised her hand to her head, brushing it
across her forehead in a bewildered manner. Cecil drew the other girls
on, and Molly and Kate were alone.
"Kate," said Molly, the instant this was the case, "I am so happy I
can scarcely speak rationally. The load is lifted from my mind. I have
found out everything. You would not believe me yesterday when I told
you that I never betrayed our confidence."
"I don't remember about yesterday," said Kate.
She turned round and gazed full at Molly. Molly stepped back and stared
at her in astonishment.
"You don't remember what you said to me?" she exclaimed.
"No; I can't remember anything. Oh, how my head aches! I feel sick and
giddy."
"Lean on me, Kate. What is the matter with you? You look dreadfully
ill. Has anything happened? Oh, I thought you'd be so happy when I told
you!"
"Don't tell me anything just now, Molly. The fact is, I can't listen.
Oh, my head, my head!"
"But just let me say this much. I'm dreadfully sorry you've a headache,
but just listen to this much. Cecil has discovered everything. Matilda
was at the bottom of the whole matter."
"Matilda!" repeated Kate. She looked quite dazed. "What about her?"
"Kate, she listened behind the summerhouse; she overheard all our
conversation. There was a hole in the wood; she listened through that
hole. She heard all your story, all about your grandfather and----
Kitty, darling, what _is_ the matter? How ghastly you look! Let me help
you across the road to this bench. Sit down; lean against me."
There was a stone bench at the opposite side of the road. Molly led
Kate to it. She sank down, sick and trembling.
"I'm dreadfully sorry you've such a frightful headache," continued
Molly; "but are you not glad?"
"To tell you the truth, Molly," replied Kate, "I don't know what you
are talking about. You want to tell me something, but I want to tell
you something else, far, far more badly. Something has happened, Molly,
and I will tell you while I remember it. The feeling in my head is so
dreadful that I don't believe I shall be able to remember anything
long. Do you see these ferns in my hand--this sort; it is very rare.
I wanted to get it, I was determined to get it. It grows high on the
rocks by the shepherd's meadow. I would climb up. The other girls had
left me, they were botanizing on their own account a little way off.
I gathered some specimens; then I stretched out my hand for a very
fine frond, I--I lost my balance--I fell on my head. I didn't remember
anything for a bit. I suppose I was stunned. After a time I got better.
I thought the dreadful pain and giddiness would pass off. I managed to
walk toward the other girls. I determined to tell them nothing. But,
oh, Molly, I feel so sick now, so dreadfully ill! Don't talk to me
just now, for I really can't listen. It worries me even to see you so
earnest and excited. May I lean on you? Can you help me to get home?"
"Yes," said Molly, "I'll do all in the world I can for you, but you
must not try to walk with only my help. Just rest where you are, Kitty;
lean back, close your eyes. I'll run after Cecil and call her."
"No, don't! I can't bear the others to know. I did wrong when I climbed
those high rocks; I broke one of Miss Forester's rules. She makes it a
condition that we shall do nothing dangerous. The others mustn't know.
If only I can manage to get home and go to bed, I shall be all right
to-morrow. Don't speak to me at all for a minute."
As Kate said these last words, she leaned up against the stone wall
by which the bench stood, and closed her eyes. After a time she grew
better: the terrible giddiness and acute pain passed; she was able to
take Molly's arm and go slowly in the direction of Redgarth.