not want
them to know where I was going. I knew my father or mother would lock
the house and leave the key at Uncle Will's, and I wanted to get my
best clothes to go to Maud's party.

After some thought, and at Maud's suggestion, I planned to hide myself
in the house till all had left it, then get the things I wanted, and
slip out of a window that was not fastened.

I knew my mother would go all over the house before she left it, and
the only place I could think of to hide was in the cellar. So with
these naughty thoughts in my head, I took occasion, a short time
before they were to start, to slip into the cellar and hide behind
some barrels. I must say that I had always a foolish fear of the
cellar, and nothing but my great desire to go to Maud's would have
induced me to spend even a few minutes in it.

I heard my father drive up to the door and my mother walking about
seeing that everything was shut and locked, but I did not hear that as
she passed the cellar door she slipped the bolt into place.

When they were out of the house, and I heard them drive away, I came
out of my hiding place, exulting in the thought that now I was free
to do as I liked. I would hurry up to my room, put my best dress and
ribbons and things into a traveling bag, and hurry down to Maud's. I
felt my way to the stairs, for it was late afternoon and the
cellar--never very light in the brightest noon--was at that hour quite
dark, and I went up those stairs the happiest, lightest-hearted girl
in the world. Alas! it was my last happy moment for months.

I fumbled about for the latch, lifted it, and pushed the door. It did
not open--and the truth flashed upon me. It was locked! I was a
prisoner! The full horror of my position burst upon me. No one knew I
was there. No one would seek me. No one could hear me, for the house
was at some distance from others. I was a prisoner in a dark
cellar--it was almost night--my parents would be gone three days!

I went into a frenzy, I shrieked and called, I pounded the door till
my hands were bleeding, though all the time I knew no one could hear
me.

I can scarcely remember what I did. I was, I believe, actually insane
for a while.

Night came on; I heard--or I thought I heard--rats, and I remembered
some of the terrible things I had read of these animals. I shouted
again, and again beat the door. I cannot tell the horror and agony of
those hours. I felt myself going mad.

I was aroused at last, aft