t there unseen. Whether he could open the door
unheard was another thing.

There was no examining each key in turn, and no whistling in the pipes,
but the right one chosen at once and thrust in.

"_Tah_!" came from overhead loudly; and Vane started back, when quite a
chorus arose, and the flock of jackdaws flew away, as if rejoicing at
mocking one who was bent upon a clandestine visit to the church.

"How stupid!" muttered Vane; but he gave a sharp glance round to see if
he were observed before turning the key, and throwing open the door.

"Why didn't he let me oil it?" he muttered, for the noise seemed to be
twice as loud now, and after dragging out the key the noise was louder
still, he thought, as he thrust to the door, and locked it on the
inside.

Then, as he withdrew the key again, he hesitated and stood listening.

Everything look strange and dim, and he felt half disposed to draw back,
but laughing to himself at his want of firmness, he ran up the winding
stairs again, as fast as the worn stones would let him, passed the
ringers' chamber, and went on up to the locked door, which creaked
dismally, as he threw it open. The next moment he was by the clock.

But he did not pause here. Drawing back into the winding staircase he
ascended to where the bells hung, and had a good look at the one with
the hammer by it--that on which the clock struck the hours--noted how
green it was with verdigris, and then hurried down to the clock-chamber,
took out his tools, pulled off his jacket and set to work.

For there was this peculiarity about the doctor's nephew--that he gave
the whole of his mind and energies to any mechanical task which took his
fancy, and, consequently, there was neither mind nor energy left to
bestow upon collateral circumstances.

Another boy would have had a thought for the consequences of what he was
attempting--whether it was right for him to meddle, whether the rector
would approve. Vane had not even the vestige of a thought on such
matters. He could only see wheels and pinions taken out after the
removal of certain screws, cleaned, oiled, put back, and the old clock
pointing correctly to the time of day and, striking decently and in
order, as a church clock should.

Pincers, pliers and screw-driver were laid on the floor and the
screw-wrench was applied here and there, after which a cloth or rag was
required to wipe the different wheels, and pivots; but unfortunately
nothing of the kin