nough to escape the most inquisitive eye, yet
large enough to allow of a written note to pass between the captive
and those upon the alert watching his interests.[1]

[Footnote 1: N.B.--In addition to the above hiding-places at
Harvington, one was discovered so recently as 1894; at least,
so we have been informed. This was some years after our visit
to the old Hall.]

A subterranean passage is said to run under the moat from a former
hiding-place, but this is doubtful; at any rate, there are no
evidences of it nowadays.

[Illustration: UFTON COURT, BERKSHIRE]

[Illustration: GARDEN TERRACE, UFTON COURT]

Altogether, Harvington is far from cheerful, even to a pond hard
by called "Gallows Pool"! The tragic legend associated with this
is beyond the province of the present work, so we will bid adieu
to this weird old hall, and turn our attention to another obscure
house situated in the south-east corner of Berkshire.

The curious, many-gabled mansion Ufton Court both from its secluded
situation and quaint internal construction, appears to have been
peculiarly suitable for the secretion of persecuted priests. Here
are ample means for concealment and escape into the surrounding
woods; and so carefully have the ingenious bolts and locks of
the various hiding-places been preserved, that one would almost
imagine that there was still actual necessity for their use in
these matter-of-fact days!

A remarkable place for concealment exists in one of the gables
close to the ceiling. It is triangular in shape, and is opened
by a spring-bolt that can be unlatched by pulling a string which
runs through a tiny hole pierced in the framework of the door of
the adjoining room. The door of the hiding-place swings upon a
pivot, and externally is thickly covered with plaster, so as to
resemble the rest of the wall, and is so solid that when sounded
there is no hollow sound from the cavity behind, where, no doubt
the crucifix and sacred vessels were secreted.

[Illustration: HIDING-PLACE, UFTON COURT]

[Illustration: HIDING PLACE, UFTON COURT]

Not far off, in an upper garret, is a hiding-place in the thickness
of the wall, large enough to contain a man standing upright.
Like the other, the door, or entrance, forms part of the plaster
wall, intersected by thick oak beams, into which it exactly fits,
disguising any appearance of an opening. Again, in one of the
passages of this curious old mansion are further evidences of
the hards