For a little space we sat silent. Then I rose.

"Good-bye." I said. "You have been very kind. Perhaps I may come
again."

She did not move. Only her eyes left the window and rested on mine.
"Ring the bell," she said. "I am going to take you to see the ruins.
They are at their best, as you said, at sundown."

"Thank you," I said, and stepped to the fireplace. A footman entered
the room. "I want the key of the Abbot's kitchen," said my hostess.

"Some visitors have it, madam. A gentleman called to ask for it ten
minutes ago."

"Oh, all right." She rose and turned to me. "Let's go, then. We'll
probably meet them bringing it back."

The half-light lent the old quire's walls a rare beauty. A great peace
hung over them. Perhaps it was of them. For a little we strolled,
talking, upon the greensward. Then:

"Now you shall see the kitchen," she said.

"If you please, Princess."

The kitchen stood away from the ruins, in the middle of a fair meadow:
a circular building of grey stone, very lofty and about sixty paces in
circumference. Its great oak door was closed. I could see one tiny
window--glassless, of course--some sixteen feet from the ground.

"Why!" said the girl, stopping suddenly, "the door's shut."

"Yes," said I; "but what of that?"

"Well, the people must have gone."

"Why?"

"Well, you can't see inside if you shut the door. Besides, if you do,
you can't open it again. Not from within I mean. It's a spring lock."

"Perhaps they're locked in."

"They can't be."

"They might," said I. "Come on."

I was right. As we drew near, a confused murmur fell upon our ears.
People talking excitedly. Then came the sound of blows upon the door.

"O-o-oh," said my companion. "So they are."

At that moment feminine tones were raised in a wail of expostulation.

"Yes, I shall! It's silly not to. Help! He-elp!"

Daphne's voice.

I fell on the green grass and writhed in silent laughter. When the
girl recoiled in horror, I caught her by a warm ankle.

"Don't move!" I whispered. "Don't speak! Don't make a sound!
Listen! It's my own party in there--Berry and Co. It's the most
perfect thing that ever happened. Hush! We're going to have the time
of our lives."

Again I rolled in an ecstasy of mirth. As the comedy of the situation
dawned upon the girl, she began to laugh helplessly.

The knocking began again. I got up, and together we approached warily.
As we reached th