Raymond
fancied he saw a mischievous sparkle in her eye which made him suspect
that she might be making fun of him. 'I didn't recognise your Lordship
in the shadow over there,' she continued, in a still softer voice.
'They have been expecting your Lordship.'

Now that Raymond was close to the girl she seemed much prettier than
before. 'What is your name?' he asked her.

'Silvia, please your Lordship.'

'Silvia--not Rosamund?'

'Oh, no, please your Lordship. Rosamund is such a vulgar name.'

'You are very pretty, Silvia.'

'Your Lordship is very good to say so,' replied she, casting down her
sparkling eyes and curtseying again.

'What is that round your neck, Silvia?'

'That is the half of a brass farthing, please your Lordship, that I
and my lover split between us this afternoon.'

'I thought it was the half of a spade guinea.'

'I'd be glad to exchange it for that,' said Silvia, looking up, with a
smile.

'Would you exchange your lover at the same time?'

'If the other was a handsome man,' said she, with a coquettish glance.
'But won't your Lordship come in? It's past five, I'm sure.'

'I will follow you,' said he. And they went in.

'Will your Lordship take my hand?' she said. 'The passage is very dark
and winding.' She put her hand in his as she spoke.

'Why is there no light here?' he asked.

'This passage can never be lighted, please your Lordship: the goblins
pinch out the wick of the candle with their fingers.'

'Are there goblins here?' said Raymond, drawing back.

'Keep hold of my hand, and they will do your Lordship no harm.'

'Does this passage belong to them?'

'Mind the steps, please your Lordship,' said Silvia suddenly. 'If you
were to lose me here you would never see light again.'

'How strange your voice sounds! Are you Silvia?'

'I am not Rosamund, at any rate!' replied his conductor, with a low
laugh. 'It's the vault of the passage makes my voice sound hoarse.'

'We must be a long way underground. And this darkness is like a block
of black marble. And I feel as if creatures were walking around me who
can see me though I cannot see them.'

'Their eyes are more used to the darkness than your Lordship's.'

'How far have we still to go?'

'Not far. I shall leave your Lordship at the next corner.'

'What am I to do then?'

No reply was made to this question. But in a few moments Raymond lost
his hold of the hand that had guided him, and a voice said, in a
whining tone--