There was the low rustling amongst last year's leaves as some mouse was busy. Then the faint trickling of a worm struggling with a strand which it was fighting hard to drag into its hole. A little farther on he was startled by a sudden rush as something bounded away from close to his feet; and, as he stood breathing hard, he could hear it go on _pat, pat, pat, pat_, right away, till the sounds died out. He knew it was a rabbit, but the suddenness made his heart beat faster all the same. Then he was off again, to startle--as he had been startled himself--a blackbird or thrush suddenly awakened from its roost, or hear the loud flapping of a wood-pigeon beating through the trees overhead. There were other sounds, too, to which he could not give a name. But it was all dark, mysterious, and delightful, as he went on cautiously lest he should lose touch of the road, and find difficulty in getting back. How long this lasted, or how far he had gone, was driven, out of his mind soon after, when he came to a sudden turn in the wood where something dimly seen glided by him, close to his face, uttering a most unearthly shriek which, to use the common expression, brought his heart to his mouth and seemed to fix his feet to the ground. Then it was gone, gliding away upon silent wing, and he had sufficient commonsense to attribute the sound to a screech-owl. "Not one of those," he muttered, "that hoot and shout and answer one another as they fly round the house at night. There," he said, with a sigh, "I won't stop any longer. I don't know how long I have been, but I don't want Waller to find me out. He wouldn't like it; and it doesn't seem right." He stopped, hesitating now, the incident of the passing owl that he had come upon, and startled into uttering its shriek of dread on finding itself suddenly in such close contact with its great enemy, man, having confused him a little as to his direction, and it was some moments before he was sure of his road. But he was taking the right course, and, feeling more himself, less morbid and nervous, refreshed as he was by the exercise, interest, and pure fresh air, he reached the gate at the end of the drive, passed on up into the grounds and, during the latter part of his return journey, was guided by the light in the porch and in the dining-room window. "It was all so easy," he said to himself, "and I could do it again at any time. But no; I won't. I won't give way to those feelings. It's ungenerous to Waller, and he is such a good fellow. I am sure he likes me, and I want to be grateful and like him too. If he found me out I should lose his respect and confidence." These were the lad's last thoughts in this direction, for he had reached the lawn, over which he passed lightly, and began feeling about for the rope.