“Say yes,” prompted Edward. “You were with us, weren’t you?”

“Yes,” said Margaret, smiling.

“Then why couldn’t you say so?” hectored Edward.

Mr. Mathias silently noted this curious treatment of the eldest: and Mrs. Thornton told Edward he mustn’t speak like that.

“Tell us what you remember about the capture, will you?” he asked, still of Margaret.

“The what?”

“Of how the pirates captured the Clorinda .”

She looked round nervously and laughed, but said nothing.