Uncle Johnny managed to embrace both at once. He wisely asked no explanations, for he could see that tears were not far away. Barbara Lee hugged them, too, and the assistant janitor, who had a girl of his own and at the suggestion of dragging the lake, had been startled "out of a year's growth" as he said afterwards (though he was six feet tall, then), beamed on them as though _he_ would like to caress them, too. Graham was excitedly swinging the panel back and forth and peering longingly up the dark, narrow stairway. "How'd you find it? Does it open right into the tower room? Were you scared?" he asked. "I'm hungry," declared Gyp. "Let's hear all about it on the way home," suggested Uncle Johnny. "And we'll put George Washington back in place--there's no use letting the entire school know about this." His words were directed to Graham and to the janitor. "Now, my girlies--what in the world have you got?" For Jerry had picked up the huge Bible. "It's a--a letter we found--in the Bible----" "So you brought the whole thing?" Uncle Johnny laughed. "Lead the way, Miss Lee." In the automobile Gyp had to have an explanation of the poles and the rope. When she heard of their fears her face grew troubled. "Oh--_how_ mumsey must have worried!" As the automobile drew up at the curb she sprang from it and rushed into the house, straight into her mother's arms--Mrs. Westley had heard the car stop and had walked with faltering steps to the door. "Mother, I didn't _want_ you to be worried--not for the _world_! But we couldn't help it." With the girls safe at home the horrible fears that had tortured them all seemed very foolish. The entire family listened with deep interest while Gyp told of that first afternoon when she and Jerry had discovered the secret stairway and of the subsequent meetings of the Ravens in the tower room. "Please, Uncle Johnny, make Isobel and Graham promise they won't tell _anybody_! It ought to be ours 'cause we found it and we're Westleys," begged Gyp. "Whatever in the world possessed Peter Westley to build a secret stairway in his house?" Mrs. Westley asked John Westley. "Who ever heard of such a thing in this day and age?" "It's not at all surprising when one recalls how persistently he always avoided people. He planned that as a way of escaping from anyone--even the servants. Can't you picture him grinning down from those windows upon departing callers? Doubtless many a time I've walked away myself, after that man of his told me he couldn't be found." "I think it's deliciously romantic," exclaimed Isobel, "and I have just as much right to use it as Gyp has." "My girls--I am afraid the whole matter will have to go to the board of trustees. Remember--Uncle Peter gave Highacres to Lincoln School--we have nothing to say about it." "Wasn't it _dark_ up there?" asked Graham.