eedle-covered
boughs, and then, closing the window, the lad, panting more from
excitement than exertion, crept to the door and listened till, making
sure that he heard Waller's step below, he rushed to the bed, dragged
down the clothes, sprang in, drew them up to his chin, and then, with
his face to the wall, lay with closed eyes, striving hard to subdue the
heaving of his breast.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A REPRIMAND.

Godfrey, as it happened, had time for his excitement to calm down, for,
after listening intently for Waller's foot upon the last flight of
stairs, one of which always gave out a now familiar crack, he found that
he had allowed his imagination to invent, for he had not heard his
companion coming up. In fact, a good ten minutes elapsed, during which
the silence was profound, and, growing hotter than ever, lying there
beneath the clothes, fully dressed, and after going through a great deal
of exertion, the listener half raised himself to get out, either to
undress or to sit down calmly and wait.

He was hesitating which to do, when there now came that unmistakable
crack which made him nestle down in the bed again, and draw the clothes
to his chin, just as there was the sharp rattle of the key in the door.
This was flung open, and Waller sprang in, to dash through the darkness
and thrust his head out of the window and look down into the gloom
beneath. Drawing back directly, he faced inwards.

"Godfrey," he whispered sharply, "where are you? Are you there?"

There was no reply.

"Do you hear?" whispered Waller, a little more loudly. "Where are you?
What have you been up to?"

Still no reply, and the boy crossed quickly to place his hand upon the
bed, and say, in an excited whisper as if relieved by what he had
found--

"Oh, you are here. I thought you had gone. You can't be asleep. Why
don't you speak? There," he cried, loudly now, "you are shamming!" For
his hands had been travelling over the clothes. "Why, you are dressed!
There, out you come!" And catching hold of the coverlet, he stripped
everything right down to the foot.

Startled at this unexpected action, Godfrey sprang up, and, with hands
rapidly following the gliding clothes, he seized them, threw himself
back, and dragged them up to his chin again.

"There, I knew you were shamming! What game have you been up to?"

"Eh? What?" faltered the lad, trying to speak as if he were confused.
"Is anything the matter? Have the sol