arrow, scarce wide enough
for a large man; and it led them continually up and down by little
break-neck stairs, until even Dick had lost all notion of his
whereabouts.

At length it grew both narrower and lower; the stairs continued to
descend; the walls on either hand became damp and slimy to the touch;
and far in front of them they heard the squeaking and scuttling of the
rats.

"We must be in the dungeons," Dick remarked.

"And still there is no outlet," added Joanna.

"Nay, but an outlet there must be!" Dick answered.

Presently, sure enough, they came to a sharp angle, and then the passage
ended in a flight of steps. On the top of that there was a solid flag of
stone by way of trap, and to this they both set their backs. It was
immovable.

"Some one holdeth it," suggested Joanna.

"Not so," said Dick; "for were a man strong as ten, he must still yield
a little. But this resisteth like dead rock. There is a weight upon the
trap. Here is no issue; and, by my sooth, good Jack, we are here as
fairly prisoners as though the gyves were on our ankle-bones. Sit ye
then down, and let us talk. After a while we shall return, when
perchance they shall be less carefully upon their guard; and, who
knoweth? we may break out and stand a chance. But, in my poor opinion,
we are as good as shent."

"Dick," she cried, "alas the day that ever ye should have seen me! For
like a most unhappy and unthankful maid, it is I have led you hither."

"What cheer!" returned Dick. "It was all written, and that which is
written, willy nilly, cometh still to pass. But tell me a little what
manner of a maid ye are, and how ye came into Sir Daniel's hands; that
will do better than to bemoan yourself, whether for your sake or mine."

"I am an orphan, like yourself, of father and mother," said Joanna; "and
for my great misfortune, Dick, and hitherto for yours, I am a rich
marriage. My Lord Foxham had me to ward; yet it appears Sir Daniel
bought the marriage of me from the king, and a right dear price he paid
for it. So here was I, poor babe, with two great and rich men fighting
which should marry me, and I still at nurse! Well, then, the world
changed, and there was a new chancellor, and Sir Daniel bought the
warding of me over the Lord Foxham's head. And then the world changed
again, and Lord Foxham bought my marriage over Sir Daniel's; and from
then to now it went on ill betwixt the two of them. But still Lord
Foxham kept me in his hand