t seemed as if she could not realise the
meaning of his words, but there was a dizzy feeling in her head as if a
catherine-wheel were whirling round and round, and she felt suddenly
weak and tired, so that she was obliged to sit down and lean against the
wall.

Rex bent over her with an anxious face.

"You are not going to faint, Norah?"

"Oh, no; I am--quite well."

There was a long silence, then--"Rex," said Norah, in a very weak little
voice, "did anyone know that you were down in the cellars to-day?"

Rex cleared his throat in miserable embarrassment.

"No, Norah. I am afraid no one saw me."

"Will they miss the keys?"

"They are very old keys, Norah. Nobody uses them."

A little frightened gasp sounded in his ear, but Norah said no more.
Rex clenched his fist and banged it fiercely on his knee.

"Idiot! idiot that I was! What business had I to let you come. It's
all my fault. It was no place for a girl; but the opening looked right
enough, and I thought--"

"I know. Besides, you asked me if I would like an adventure, and I said
I would. I came of my own free will. Don't be angry with yourself,
Rex; it is as much my fault as yours."

"You are a little brick, Norah," said a husky voice, and Rex's hand
gripped hers with a quick, strong pressure. "I never thought a girl
could be so plucky. I'll not forget--" He broke off suddenly, and
Norah's voice was very unsteady as she asked the next question--

"If--if we shouted very loudly would anyone hear?"

"I--er-- Think how far away from the house we must be by this time,
Norah!"

There was a long, throbbing silence. Rex sat with his head bent forward
on his knees; Norah stared blankly before her, her face looking thin and
ghost-like in the dim light. The silence grew oppressive, and presently
the lad raised his head and touched his companion on the arm. "Don't
look like that, Norah. What is it? Norah, speak! What are you
thinking about?" He had to bend forward to hear the answer, for Norah's
lips were dry, and her throat parched as with thirst.

"Poor father!" she gasped; and Rex started at the sound with a stab of
pain.

"Don't! I can't bear it. Norah, for pity's sake don't give in--don't
give up hope. Something will happen--it will--it must! We shall get
out all right."

"But if we can't go forward, and if we can't go back, and if no one can
hear us call," said Norah, still in the same slow, gasping accents, "I
don't see--how-