But Clara said she could not see, and that she believed that, excepting in ships, there were no such things as rope ladders, and all those that you read of in books were manufactured in people's brains, and never helped anybody yet up to a window; while as to ladies eloping down them, that was all nonsense, for she did not think the woman was living who could get either up or down one of the swingle-swangle things. And then she said that it would not be safe; but I knew better, and told her so, for I was not going to have my plan set aside for a trifle. So then I set to and wrote a letter to Achille. Since Clara had laughed so terribly, I had not liked to send money in the notes by her; and poor Achille had sent me such a despairing note, telling me how that he must see me--one of the most grievous, broken-hearted notes possible. I declare I don't know what he did not say he would do if he could not see me soon. CHAPTER FOURTEEN. MEMORY THE FOURTEENTH--ANTICIPATED JOYS. I wrote and told Achille all my plans, using the top of the drawers for a writing desk, and letting Patty Smith think that I was doing an exercise; for I was so horribly deceitful, writing upon exercise paper, and referring now and then to dictionary and grammar, as if for different words. I told him he was to get hooks made that would fit over the inside of the window-sill, and he was to buy a rope ladder, and I would let down a string and draw it up, and hook it on, when he could easily run up and stand upon the great, wide ledge beneath the second floor windows--a large, ornamental cornice that ran nearly round the house--and there stop and talk to me whenever it was a dark night. I soon managed, through Clara, for him to have the note; and the next time he came he was quite radiant with joy, and praised all the girls' exercises, though some of them were really execrable I would not look at him, but soon after he was gone Clara slipped a note into my hand, which said that he would be under the window that night at half-past twelve, and that I was to be sure and have a ball of string ready to let down and draw up the ladder, which he had been obliged to make himself; for though he could buy cord enough everywhere in London, there was not such a thing as a rope ladder to be got. "There, I told you so," said Clara, laughing. "Rope ladder, indeed. I don't believe people ever did sell such things; and you see now if he don't stick halfway up, like a great fly in a spider's web, till Lady Blunt comes, as the spider, and sticks a great knitting needle into his body to kill him. And then she'll call all the other spiders, and all four of them will set to and devour your poor Achille--for they are almost ready to eat him every day, as it is." "Don't talk such stuff," I said pettishly, though I could not help thinking of Miss Furness and her penchant for Achille, though I knew he hated her.