e was never easy when she thought of the danger you
might perhaps run into. She couldn't rest until Scott had padlocked the
door."

"We were very near it," said Cicely, with a shiver.

"It was the greatest mercy you didn't venture any farther. I can't be
too thankful that the cistern made a noise just at that moment, and
frightened you down again."

"Then you knew of this secret door, though not of the one in the picture
gallery?" said Lindsay.

"Yes; it was discovered two centuries ago, in the reign of Queen Anne, I
believe. In many old manor houses there are equally clever contrivances
for hiding-places. They are often called 'priests' holes'. I've heard of
one under the steps of the stairs, and another in a window-seat, or up a
chimney, or even behind a picture."

"Like ours," said Cicely.

"No doubt the one under the settle may have been a 'priests' hole' too,
and perhaps had the second entrance for extra security. Very sad stories
are told about some of the hiding-places. Sometimes the poor fugitive
couldn't find an opportunity to get away, and the person who knew the
secret, and should have brought him food, was killed or taken prisoner.
Then he either had to come out, and deliver himself up to the soldiers,
or to remain and die a slow, lingering death of starvation."

"I thought we were going to do that when we were locked in with the
treasure," remarked Cicely.

"How much did Merle find out in the lantern room?" interposed Lindsay.

"She happened to pull at the lantern, and had just the same surprise as
you," replied Monica. "She had gone a few steps into the passage when I
came down from looking at the cistern, and met her, much to her
astonishment. Of course I explained everything, and begged her not to
tell, because we didn't want any more schoolgirls to start exploring."

"Then it was to you she gave that mysterious promise?"

"Certainly it was to me. I'm glad to hear she kept it so well."

"But I still don't half understand," said Lindsay. "We thought Mrs.
Wilson and Scott were hiding the treasure up there. We saw them take a
sack into the garden one night and bury something."

"You managed to give poor Scott a great fright," laughed Monica. "He
told me about it the next day. He was doing nothing more dreadful than
digging out a wasps' nest. Mrs. Wilson had discovered it in the bank,
and she went with him to show him the place and help him. Of course it
could not be done by daylight, when the