Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/99

 inattentive brain. Through the thin walls came the buzz of voices, excited still, but only pleasantly so; for was not the desperado safely secured without having done anything very desperate after all? And for everybody else was it not an adventure to boast of for the term of one's natural life? This was the impression derived by Irralie, rightly or wrongly, from her mother's manner and the voices through the walls. The little incident was over. It was nothing more. They could now sit down to supper—quite possibly with an added zest; but the girl again begged to be excused from joining them.

"Dear mother, yes, I know I am your daughter and the daughter of the house. But I can't help it. You must let me off. It will be understood. I was with him at the time. You all were behind the scenes. Tell them that, and they will understand."

"I see that it has shaken you," said Mrs. Villiers, still smoothing the hair from the hot, troubled brow. "And no wonder,