banker who had recently purchased an estate in the neighbourhood, was
asked to come to play with her on the day when Harold left. It was
holiday time at Eton, and he was at home. Stephen did not mention to
Harold the fact of his coming; it was only from a chance allusion of
Mrs. Jarrold before he went that he inferred it. He did not think
the matter of sufficient importance to wonder why Stephen, who
generally told him everything, had not mentioned this.

During their play, Stephen, after pledging him to secrecy, told
Leonard of her intention of visiting the crypt, and asked him to help
her in it. This was an adventure, and as such commended itself to
the schoolboy heart. He entered at once into the scheme con amore;
and the two discussed ways and means. Leonard's only regret was that
he was associated with a little girl in such a project. It was
something of a blow to his personal vanity, which was a large item in
his moral equipment, that such a project should have been initiated
by the girl and not by himself. He was to get possession of the key
and in the forenoon of the next day he was to be waiting in the
churchyard, when Stephen would join him as soon as she could evade
her nurse. She was now more than eleven, and had less need of being
watched than in her earlier years. It was possible, with strategy,
to get away undiscovered for an hour.


At Carstone Harold got though what he had to do that same afternoon
and arranged to start early in the morning for Normanstand. After an
early breakfast he set out on his thirty-mile journey at eight
o'clock. Littlejohn, his horse, was in excellent form,
notwithstanding his long journey of the day before, and with his nose
pointed for home, put his best foot foremost. Harold felt in great