went to the window, and leaning over the sill, they looked down.

"I wish we had some more shavings," said Mary Bell.

"Yes," said Bella, "that is too far to jump down. We can't get out any
way at all." So saying, she began to cry.

"Don't cry, Bella," said Mary Bell, in a soothing tone. "It is no
matter if we can't get out, for your mother knows that we came here,
and if we don't come home in an hour, she will come for us and let us
out."

"But perhaps there is a ladder somewhere," added Mary Bell, after a
short pause. "Perhaps we can find a ladder that the carpenters have
left somewhere about. If there is, we can put it out the window, and
then climb down upon it. Let us go and look."

"Well," said Bella, "so we will."

The two children accordingly set off on an exploring tour to find a
ladder. Mary Bell went toward the front part of the house, and Bella
into the back kitchen. They looked not only in the rooms, but also in
the passage-ways and closets, and in every corner where a ladder could
possibly be hid. At length, just as Mary Bell was going up the stairs,
in order to look into the little attic chambers, she heard Bella
calling out from the back part of the house, in a tone of voice
expressive of great exultation and joy.

"She has found the ladder," said Mary Bell, and leaving the stairs she
went to meet her.

She found Bella running through the kitchen toward the entry where
Mary Bell was, calling out with great appearance of delight,

"I've found the key-hole, Mary Bell! I've found the key-hole!"

This was indeed true. The lock to which the key that Mary Erskine
had given the children belonged, was upon the _back_ door, the
principal door of the house being fastened by a bolt. Mary Bell went
to the back door, and easily opened it by means of the key. Glad to
discover this mode of escape from their thraldom, the children ran
out, and capered about upon the back stoop in great glee. Presently
they went in again and shut all the windows which they had opened,
and then came out, locking the door after them, and set out on their
return home.

When they arrived, they found that Mary Erskine had got every thing
ready for the school.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SCHOOL.

Good teachers and proper conveniences for study, tend very much, it
is true, to facilitate the progress of pupils in all attempts for
the acquisition of knowledge. But where these advantages cannot be
enjoyed, it is astonishing how