wid that schmall
bit av a black box? How do ye do it at all, I do' know."

"Oh, I go into a dark closet and put a gelatine plate in the box, and then
I go outdoors and take my picture."

"A gilitin plate, is it? Thin, faith, ye'll take ne'er a picter this day,
for Oi'm jist afther usin' the last schrap av gilitin in the house to make
the wine jilly fer the dinner."

"I don't mean _that_ kind of gelatine; the kind I use is already prepared
on little plates in this box, and I have to go in the dark closet to fix
them."

"Faith, I'd fix thim out here, thin, where ye can see what ye're about.
It's dungeon dhark in the pot-closet."

"That is exactly what I want, and, _please_, don't come near it, or open
the door while I'm in there, will you?"

"No, no; I'll not come near ye. The minute I've done me taties it's down
in the laundry Oi'm goin', an' Oi'll not bother ye at all; but here, take
this schmall, little candle wid ye whan ye go in, fer it's that dhark
ye'll not see yer hand forninst ye," and she caught up a candle from the
shelf.

"No, no! I don't _want_ any light; the darker it is the better."

"It's crackin' yer head aff ye'll be."

"No, I sha'n't," said Jean, as she whisked into the closet and drew the
door together just as Mary started down the back stairs to the laundry.

Had the closet been designed for an eel-pot it would have proved the most
complete success, for getting into it was a very simple matter, whereas,
getting _out_ required considerable ingenuity. Absorbed in the one idea of
getting the plates placed in the camera, Jean entirely forgot the
peculiarities of the fastening upon the door. As she slammed it together
every ray of light vanished, and she was instantly enveloped in an
Egyptian darkness. Carefully opening her box, she drew from it one of the
plates, touched it with her fingers to find which side was coated with the
gelatine preparation, placed it in the camera and turned to leave the
closet.

"Now, I'll have a picture in just about two jiffs," she said, and pushed
against the door. To her surprise, it did not open. Another push, with the
same result. It then dawned upon her that the spring-bolt had fastened
upon the outer side. Feeling carefully about in the pitch darkness, she
laid her things upon the shelf and tried to find a way of getting out.
But, push, shake and rattle as she might, it was useless; the door
remained tightly fastened.

"Mary," she called, "come and let me