CHAPTER XIII.
WILLIE'S NEST IN THE RUINS.
The spot he had fixed upon was in the part of the ruins next the cottage, not many yards from the back door of it.

I have said there were still a few vaulted places on the ground-level used by the family.

The vault over the wood-house was perfectly sound and weather-tight, and, therefore, as Willie and the carpenter agreed, quite safe to roost upon.
In a corner outside, and now open to the elements, had once been a small winding stone stair, which led to the room above, on the few broken fragments of which, projecting from the two sides of the corner, it was just possible to climb, and so reach the top of the vault.

Willie had often got up to look out through a small, flat-arched window into the garden of the manse.

When Mr Shepherd, the clergyman, who often walked in his garden, caught sight of him, he always came nearer, and had a chat with him; for he did not mind such people as Willie looking into his garden, and seeing what he was about.