The two girls were too stunned for a moment to move.
The worst thing that could possibly have happened was just what DID
happen.
There would be all kinds of questions and explanardons. Peg
instantly made up her mind that they were not going to know why
Ethel was there.
Ethel must be saved and at any cost.
She sprang to her feet. "Holy Mother!" she cried, "the whole
house'll be awake! Give me yer hat! Quick! An' yer cloak! An' yer
bag!" Peg began quickly to put on Ethel's hat and cloak. Her own she
flung out of sight beneath the great oak table.
"Now remember," she dictated, "ye came here because ye heard me. Ye
weren't goin' out o' the house at all. Ye just heard me movin' about
in here. Stick to that."
The sound of voices in the distance broke in on them.
"They're comin'," said Peg, anxiously. "Remember ye're here because
ye heard ME. An' ye were talkin--an'--I'll do the rest. Though what
in the wurrld I am GOIN' to say and do I don't know at all. Only YOU
were not goin' out o' this house! That's one thing we've got to
stick to. Give me the bag"
Wearing Ethel's hat and cloak and with Ethel's travelling-bag in her
hand, staunch little Peg turned to meet the disturbed family, with
no thought of herself, what the one abiding resolution to, at any
and at all costs, save her cousin Ethel from disgrace.
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