As I said this, the prelude to the inevitable confession, the misery and shame of the whole position almost overwhelmed me, in spite of my increasing anxiety about Moore's injuries. It was with great difficulty that I suppressed a sob. The last speaker, less startled and bewildered than the hermit-like owner of the place, was naturally quicker to realise what I was feeling, and I think he heard the catch in my voice, and was sorry for me. He turned to the other. "I will hurry on with this young lady, Mr Grey," he said, "and see what can be done. Perhaps you--" "Yes, yes," our host interrupted. "I'll--I had better--the others might be startled, and--" I fancied I heard him mutter something about "the servants." "I will follow you immediately," he went on, and as he spoke he dived back into the dim recesses of the gloomy hall and disappeared. We--the younger man and I--hurried out. As we went, I felt that, however badly hurt my brother was, I must say something. So I began-- "I--I am so terribly ashamed," I said. "We had no right to come into the grounds at all. We are well punished. I--you see I got frightened about Moore, my brother, and I followed him in, and then--the door had been locked in the meantime, and--we thought we could climb over." My companion assuredly _was_ very quick of apprehension. He glanced at me, and I could feel that his eyes were kind, dark as it was. "Try not to distress yourself," he said very gently. "I do not see that you are the least to blame--rather the other way, indeed, for bravely entering the ogre's den," he laughed a little, evidently taking for granted that I was acquainted with the uncanny reputation of the place, "for your brother's sake, and--" Here I interrupted him. I think, I _hope_, that I am really candid by nature. Unmerited praise is always painful and humiliating to me, as to all honestly-inclined folk. "Oh!" I exclaimed, "please don't say that. If you knew--" Then _he_ interrupted. I think he was terrified of my beginning to cry! "One thing I do know," he said, "and that is, what boys are, and the inconceivable hobbles they get themselves and their belongings into. Let us hope your brother is not badly hurt after all. Ah! there he is," for his quick eyes had discerned Moore's half-prostrate form even before I had done more than peer about, knowing we must be near him. "Moore," I exclaimed, "here we are. I--this gentleman will help us." I spoke encouragingly. I was very sorry for him. I was answered by an exclamation of relief. "O Reggie," he said, with something like a smothered sob, "I am so thankful. I thought you were never coming."