iously, she went on. "It
blew down a narrow piece of the paneling in the long gallery--it is next
to my room, you know--and I heard the noise in the night and lit a
candle and went to see. Some of the window panes are broken, so it is
very blustery there in storms. Well, there was a door behind it--a
secret door! I was so excited, but I could not keep the candle alight
and it was very cold. I saw nothing was broken--only the wind had
dislodged the spring. I was able to push it back and pull a little chest
against it, and wait till morning. And then what do you think I
found?--it led to a staircase in the thickness of the wall, which went
down and down until it came to a door right below the cellar--it took me
days of dodging Mademoiselle and Priscilla to carry down oil and things
to help me to open it--and then it came out in a hollow archway on the
second terrace, which has a stone bench in it, and is where old William
keeps his tools. It is so cleverly done you could never see it; it looks
just as if it was no door, but was only there for ornament. You may
fancy I never told anyone! It is my secret--and yours now--and it
enabled me to do what I have always longed to do--go out in the night!"

"You go out in the night all alone!" exclaimed Cheiron, almost aghast.

"But of course," said Halcyone. "You cannot think of the joy when there
is a moon and stars; and some of the night creatures are such
friends--they teach me wonderful things. Only the dreadful difficulty is
in avoiding Priscilla--she sleeps in the dressing-room next me. I love
her better than anyone else in the world, but she could never
understand--she would only worry about the wet feet and clothes being
spoilt. I always think it is so fortunate though, don't you, that
servants--even a dear like Priscilla--sleep so soundly. Aunt Ginevra
says they can't help it, every class has its peculiarity."

Mr. Carlyon was extremely interested--he wanted to hear more of these
adventures.

"How do you avoid Priscilla seeing your things in the morning then?" he
asked.

"I have got a pair of big gutta-percha boots--they were my father's
waders once, and I found them, and have hidden them in one of the
chests, and I tuck everything into them--so there are no marks. It is
enchanting."

"And do you often have these nocturnal outings, you odd little girl?"
Cheiron said, wonderingly.

"Not very. I have to be so careful, you see--and I only choose moonlight
or starligh