Alec was once more condemned to the sofa, and Annie had to miss him, and wonder what had become of him.

She always felt safe when Alec was there, and when he was not she grew timid; although whole days would sometimes pass without either speaking to the other.

But before the morning was over she learned the reason of his absence.
For about noon, when all was tolerably harmonious in the school, the door opened, and the face of Robert Bruce appeared, with gleaming eyes of wrath.
"Guid preserve's!" said Scrumpie to his next neighbour.

"Sic a hidin' as we s' a' get! Here's Rob Bruce! Wha's gane and tell't him ?" But some of the gang of conspirators, standing in a class near the door, stared in horror.

Amongst them was Curly.