How cross those long , shadowy fields between us and our rooftree ? How venture through the darkly mysterious bracken hollow ? Fortunately , Uncle Alec came along at this crisis and said he thought we 'd better come home now , since the fires were nearly out . We slid down from the fence and started , taking care to keep close together and in front of Uncle Alec . `` I do n't believe a word of that yarn , '' said Dan , trying to speak with his usual incredulity . `` I do n't see how you can help believing it , '' said Cecily . `` It is n't as if it was something we 'd read of , or that happened far away . It happened just down at Markdale , and I 've seen that very spruce wood myself . '' `` Oh , I suppose William Cowan got a fright of some kind , '' conceded Dan , `` but I do n't believe he saw the devil . '' `` Old Mr. Morrison at Lower Markdale was one of the men who undressed him , and he remembers seeing the marks , '' said the Story Girl triumphantly . `` How did William Cowan behave afterwards ? '' I asked . `` He was a changed man , '' said the Story Girl solemnly . `` Too much changed . He never was known to laugh again , or even smile . He became a very religious man , which was a good thing , but he was dreadfully gloomy and thought everything pleasant sinful . He would n't even eat any more than was actually necessary to keep him alive . Uncle Roger says that if he had been a Roman Catholic he would have become a monk , but , as he was a Presbyterian , all he could do was to turn into a crank . '' `` Yes , but your Uncle Roger was never clapped on the shoulder and called brother by the devil , '' said Peter . `` If he had , he might n't have been so precious jolly afterwards himself . ''
`` I do wish to goodness , '' said Felicity in exasperation , `` that you 'd stop talking of the -- the -- XXXXX such subjects in the dark .
If at between by of since than that through to