"Never mind, Noel," said his mother, "you will soon be able to read the clock easily."
"May I have another candle, mother, to put in the tower?" Duke asked.
Mrs. Bryden gave him a candle. A little later the boys went off to play in the deserted rooms.
As soon as they were alone, Duke said to his brother—
"Did you guess why I asked mother for this candle?"
"To put in the tower," replied Noel; "you said so."
"Of course I said so, stupid, because I did not want mother to know about the secret staircase," replied Duke; "but I thought you would guess that I wanted it to light us down those steps."
"Oh, Duke, then you told mother a story?"
"No, I didn't; for I mean to use it for the tower as well! We are not likely to burn up the whole candle there."
Noel earnestly hoped that they would not. He shivered as he thought of what lay before him; but it never occurred to him to try to dissuade Duke from going. He was sure it would be of no use, and he did not want Duke to suspect that he was afraid.