When he reached home,
however, he found the house not yet astir; and had time to feed and groom
his horses before any one was about, so that, to his relief, no rendering
of reasons was necessary.
All the next day Maggie was ill at ease, in much dread of the appearance of
a mother. The baby seemed nothing the worse for his exposure, and although
thin and pale, appeared a healthy child, taking heartily the food offered
him. He was decently though poorly clad, and very clean. The Cormacks
making inquiry at every farmhouse and cottage within range of the moor,
the tale of his finding was speedily known throughout the neighbourhood;
but to the satisfaction of Maggie at least, who fretted to carry home her
treasure, without any result; so that by the time the period of her visit
arrived, she was feeling tolerably secure in her possession, and returned
with it in triumph to her father.
The long-haired horse not yet proving equal to the journey, she had to walk
home; but Eppie herself accompanied her, bent on taking her share in the
burden of the child, which Maggie was with difficulty persuaded to yield.
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