"All right so far, but I'm glad that trunk wasn't any bigger," said Cassius; "now it's all plain sailing. Shut all the doors behind us, Chloe, and leave everything straight." They descended to the first floor. Cassius opened a side-door, and it was with a feeling of exultation that Calista found herself in the open air. "Is it possible she left a door unfastened?" said Calista. "Not she," returned Cassius. "Young master gave me a key to this door years ago, and I kept it for a kind of keepsake. But let's get on the road, and I'll tell you all about it." "Won't you take the river road?" asked Chloe. "It's more lonesomer." "Either road is lonesome enough at this time," answered Cassias; "and I want to get Missy into safe keeping. Have you got anything to put round you, Missy? It is sort of chilly." "Yes, I took down this old cloak, which was hanging in the closet," said Calista. "That is my master's old military cloak, which he wore in war times," said Cassius. "He had it on when he was took for death. Some time, Missy, if you don't want it, I should like to have that cloak; but I don't want it in my house just now." They were soon stowed in the Jersey wagon, which was tied before the gate, and the stout little horse was going over the road at a fine pace, as if he did not mind his load in the least. "And now, do tell me how you got in?" said Calista. "And what is the story of that closet?" "Oh, it is all plain enough," answered Cassius. "You see Chloe mistrusted all the time that you didn't go away with Mr. Fabian, because she did not see you go out, and she told me so. So Sally says,— "'You'd better go and make sure, and take the poor thing something to eat.' For Sally, she can't bear to think of any one's going hungry. "Says I, 'If she is there, I reckon we can get her out easy enough.' "You see young master and me, we used to go out night-fishing, and he had a key to the little side-door, and he and I, we built that little staircase round the chimney and through the closets, so I could come down to his room any time. Your grandpa knew it, and thought it was only a frolic. Whether Miss Priscy did or not I don't know. She was away at the time we built it, I remember. When young Master Richard went away, he gave me that key to the side-door, and told me to keep it till he came back. So as nobody ever used the door, I took it away with me when I went, for a kind of keepsake. But it took a sight of oil to make it turn smooth, I can tell you. I little thought what good it was going to do. But I kind of wish you hadn't taken the coat." "I don't think she'll miss it," said Calista. "She gave it to me with a parcel of other old clothes to cut into carpet-rags, a long while ago, and she has never asked for the things since. Anyhow, I can send it back to her if she wants it." "Yes, we'll fix that easy enough," said Chloe. "Here we come." "I guess we'd better drive right to Mr. Fabian's, hadn't we?" asked Cassius.