Arula made the dust fairly fly as she pounded along the path. “Habbess, marm! Missus Spinnsey! ’Tis oi, ’Rula the moleymaid!”

Laughing, weeping, gasping for breath, they met in a rush.

For one so old and frail, the Abbess turned out to be a mighty hugger. She clutched Samkim, completely winding him as she yelled down his ear, “Samkim, Samkim. I knew you’d come back someday!”

Faith Spinney was kissing Arula and boxing her ears at the same time. “Oh, you liddle rip. Welcome back, m’dear! Now don’t you ever stray from that Abbey again, d’you ’ear me!”

Thrugg wiped the dust from his face and patted their backs heftily. “Yore a sight fer otter’s eyes, young uns! I’ll wager you’ve some good ol’ tales an’ yarns to spin about adventures an’ travels!”

The Abbess had managed to compose herself. She placed her paws around Samkim and Arula, protecting them from the curious Redwallers. “There will be ample time for the telling of tales later. Perhaps we’d better greet all these new guests they’ve brought to our Abbey.”

Mara had purposefully fallen to the back of the crowd. Slightly embarrassed and unsure of herself, she listened to the Abbey ladies as they met the others.

“So good to meet you, Mr. Log-a-log, and you, Mr. Alfoh. Thank you for bringing our young ones safely back to us. Oh dear, there are such a lot of you and we haven’t prepared anything, but you are welcome to come back to Redwall Abbey with us, all of you. Samkim, Arula, will you lead these good creatures to Redwall, please. I’m sure you’ll excuse us, Mrs. Spinney and I have to get back before you and see what we can arrange in the way of lunch. Thrugg, turn this cart round and get us back to the Abbey with all speed! Faith, don’t stand there fussing, get in the cart—quickly!”

The shrews set up a mighty cheer as Thrugg galloped off up the path, towing the cart behind him.

*   *   *

Early noon saw the Guosssom outside the Abbey gate. They met with a very embarrassed Abbess and Faith, who were sitting resignedly in the cart. Abbess Vale threw up her paws in despair.

“We’re locked out, Samkim. We’ve banged, yelled and shouted but nobeast answers. Thrugg has gone round to the back wall to see if he can climb over somehow.”

Faith Spinney threw her apron over her face. “Oh, the shame of it, m’dears. Locked out of our own Abbey, and here you all are without a welcome, dusty an’ hungered!”

“Excuse me, but may I be of help?”

Abbess Vale looked up into the deep brown eyes of a beautiful young badger maid. She was completely taken aback. “Oh, Samkim! Oh, why didn’t you tell me?”

The badger maid patted the Abbess’s paw lightly. “My name is Mara.”