ck to the door," said Cicely, "just in case anyone
should be coming down the road, and might hear us."

The light was rapidly growing dimmer and dimmer, the pillars cast long
shadows, and the corners were already wrapt in darkness, through which
here and there a figure on a monument stood out white against the gloomy
background. Once more the girls thumped at the door and shouted, though
they feared it would be of no avail.

"There's only one thing left to be done, Cicely," said Lindsay at last.

"And what's that?"

"Go up into the belfry again and ring the bell. Everybody in the village
would hear that, and Judson would come to see what was the matter."

"Yes," replied Cicely with some hesitation, "I suppose we must--but----"

"But what?"

"We should have to walk up the belfry stairs."

"Well?"

"Oh, Lindsay, Sir Mervyn! Suppose we were to meet him on the staircase?
The village people say he walks!"

"And Monica said it was nothing but nonsense and superstition."

Lindsay tried to sound brave, but she held Cicely's arm tightly
notwithstanding.

Poor Cicely felt "'twixt Scylla and Charybdis". To toll the bell seemed
their only chance of escape, and to do so they must certainly mount into
the square room where the rope was hanging. On the one hand was the
prospect of spending some time in a building which was rapidly growing
darker and darker, and on the other, there was a quick dash up the
winding staircase, which was the centre of all her nervous fears.

"We must do it," urged Lindsay. "Come along! Let us go now, before you
think about it any more."

It was very dark when they went through the small door and began groping
their way up the narrow steps. There was not room for both to walk
abreast, so Lindsay went first and Cicely clung tightly on to her skirt
behind, ready to turn and flee precipitately if she heard the slightest
sound from above. The stairs seemed twice as long as when they had
mounted them before, and far narrower and steeper.

"Here we are!" exclaimed Lindsay, when at last they found their feet on
the flooring of the tower room. There was just light enough to faintly
distinguish objects, and they were making straight for the bell rope
when Cicely grasped Lindsay's arm in a panic of fear.

"What's that noise?" she whispered breathlessly.

"Where?"

"There! Up the ladder in the roof!"

Both girls listened, their hearts beating in great thumps. Cicely was
not mistaken. There was