This was easier said than done, but after considerable trouble they managed to restore the room once more to its former state of darkness. Their candle was burning rather low, but they hoped it would be sufficient to light them to the mouth of the cave. With the aid of a chair they climbed on to the mantelpiece, passed through the door in the panelling to the vaulted chamber, and on into the subterranean passage. They scurried along as fast as they could without stumbling, partly from fear that the candle would go out, and partly in dread lest somebody should be coming from the entrance, and meet them on the way. It was with a feeling of intense relief that, bearing the last guttering scrap of candle, they at length emerged into the daylight. "Here we are, safe and sound, and met no bogy, thank goodness!" rejoiced Dulcie. "There's our bogy, waiting!" said Deirdre, pointing to a school hat which suddenly made its appearance from below. "Gerda, by all that's wonderful!" gasped Dulcie. Yes, it was Gerda who had followed them, and who now watched them as they came out of the cave. She was paler than usual, and there was a queer set look about her mouth. "So that was what you wanted the candle for. You might have told me," she remarked. The two girls began an animated account of their strange adventure. They were so full of it that at the moment it would have been impossible to avoid talking about it. Gerda listened calmly, though she asked one or two questions. She spoke with the constrained manner of one who is putting a strong control on herself. "So you found nothing to explain the mystery?" she queried. "Nothing at all. Is it Lillie who's living there and doing her own cooking?" "And is she a girl or a spook?" added Dulcie. "Spooks don't drink tea. She must be alive," said Deirdre. "I wonder if Miss Birks knows about her?" "I guess we'd better not divulge the secret!" chuckled Dulcie. "What would Miss Birks say to us for trespassing in the kitchen-garden?--particularly when she's away." "We should get into a jolly row!" agreed Deirdre. "We shall all three get into one as it is if we don't go back quickly," observed Gerda.