little voice, and went on
down the passage and out into the yard.

The June sunshine lay hot and still over the paved court, and he looked
up into the blue sky overhead. As he looked at the high wall that closed
it in on three sides, he realised more than ever that he was caught in a
monstrous trap from which there could be no ordinary means of escape. He
could never climb over such a wall even with a ladder. He walked out a
little way and noticed the rank weeds growing in patches in the corners;
decay and neglect left everywhere their dismal signs; the yard, in spite
of the sunlight, seemed as gloomy and cheerless as the house itself.

In one corner stood several little white upright stones, each about
three feet high; there seemed to be some writing on them, and he was in
the act of going nearer to inspect, when a window opened and he heard
some one calling to him in a loud, excited whisper:

"Hst! Come in, Jimbo, at once. Quick! Run for your life!"

He glanced up, quaking with fear, and saw the governess leaning out of
the open window. At another window, a little beyond her, he thought a
number of white little faces pressed against the glass, but he had no
time to look more closely, for something in Miss Lake's voice made him
turn and run into the house and up the stairs as though Fright himself
were close at his heels. He flew up the three flights, and found the
governess coming out on the top landing to meet him. She caught him in
her arms and dashed back into the room, as if there was not a moment to
be lost, slamming the door behind her.

"How in the world did you get out?" she gasped, breathless as himself
almost, and pale with alarm. "Another second and He'd have had you----!"

"I found the door open----"

"He opened it on purpose," she whispered, looking quickly round the
room. "He meant you to go out."

"But you called to me to play in the yard," he said. "I heard you. So of
course I thought it was safe."

"No," she declared, "I never called to you. That wasn't my voice. That
was one of his tricks. I only this minute found the door open and you
gone. Oh, Jimbo, that was a narrow escape; you must never go out of this
room till--till I tell you. And never believe any of these voices you
hear--you'll hear lots of them, saying all sorts of things--but unless
you _see_ me, don't believe it's my voice."

Jimbo promised. He was very frightened; but she would not tell him any
more, saying it would only ma