e restored, though his thoughts
were busy and perplexed. He almost made up his mind to consult somebody,
and if he did, why not Aunt Betty, who never let out secrets? It was
worth thinking about, even if he did not make up his mind to do it at
once. At the same time he must not let things go too far.

Running down the path, vaulting the little gate leading into the
shrubberies, and dashing down a back way almost dark with the thick
laurel-bushes overhead, he soon reached what was known as the postern
door. Entering a low passage, narrow and dimly lighted from some
invisible opening, he pursued his way along various twists and turns of
the old house, with now and again a few stairs up, till he finally came
upon a crimson-baize door, opening on a long panelled corridor. The
first two or three rooms were unoccupied, the remainder were devoted to
the use of Estelle and her governess. In the schoolroom the whole party
were assembled, the children waiting with more or less impatience for
his arrival.

'You _have_ been a long time!' cried Marjorie, while his cousin jumped
up from the table, to clear away the round game they had been playing.

The governesses having retired to Mademoiselle's study, the children
started off on their usual rainy-day amusement, hide-and-seek. They
never tired of rushing about through the old passages and rooms, and
often came upon strange discoveries. Things hidden away for years and
forgotten, doors which had remained unopened, or perhaps even had been
mistaken for a part of the wainscot for generations. These discoveries
were somewhat awe-inspiring, and the game not unfrequently became what
the children called 'Treasure-hunting.' They generally managed to keep
together on such occasions; it was too uncanny to be alone in those
ghostly apartments.

As a rule Georgie was not allowed to join in these weird expeditions. He
was too young, and his conduct could not be depended upon. He might
choose to be frightened and scream just at the wrong moment, or he would
obstinately refuse to go into dark, shuttered rooms, where the smell of
rats and dust seemed to strike them in the face, so stifling was it.
Hide-and-seek could not be comfortably played with him, either. He could
not run fast enough, nor did he like being left behind, and any sudden
clutch from behind a door nearly terrified him out of his life. So, much
to his disgust, he was forced to remain with the governesses, or go down
to Aunt Bet