"This plank has been moved."
After a while he came away to look for a spade. He found one, and went back again. At last a smothered sound made me spring up and rush to him; but he met me, driving me back.
"I beg of you, dear Miss Dorothy, keep away. Have you a handkerchief with you?"
I had one, and gave it to him. His hands were covered with earth. He had only just gone back again when I gave a cry—
"Robert! It has gone!"
He came up to me, keeping one hand behind him.
"Miss Dorothy, if ever you were good and brave, hold out now!"
I beat my hands together—"It has gone! It has gone!"
"It has not gone!" he said. "Master Edmund's hand is in this handkerchief. It has been buried under a plank of the flooring!"
I gasped, "Let me see it!"