For some minutes the boy stood in deep deliberation, scarcely daring to knock at the door, lest some of the housebreakers should be already concealed near the spot, and rush upon him before it was opened, or else enter with him into the defenceless dwelling.

But at length he gave one very quiet rap with his fingers, and after a minute's pause his heart bounded with joy as he heard Miss Anne herself asking who was there.
'Stephen Fern,' he answered, with his lips close to the keyhole, and speaking in his lowest tones.
'What is the matter, Stephen ?' she asked.

'I cannot open the door, for my uncle always takes the keys with him into his own room.' 'Please to take the light into the pantry for one minute,' he whispered cautiously, with a fervent hope that Miss Anne would do so without requiring any further explanations; for he was lost if Black Thompson or Davies were lying in wait near at hand.

Very thankfully he heard Miss Anne's step across the quarried floor, and in a moment afterwards the light shone through a low window close by.

It was unglazed, with a screen of open lattice-work over it so as to allow of free ventilation.
It had one thick stone upright in the middle, leaving such a narrow space as only a boy could creep through.