"She forbade us to leave the hall, and that is enough!" retorted Dénice.
But Desireè persisted in daring me to descend the stairs, and at last I was just foolish enough to undertake it. Amabel strove with tears in her eyes to dissuade me, but seeing that I was determined, she expressed her intention of going with me.
"Don't go, oh, don't go!" pleaded Dénice; but, seeing us both preparing to descend, she suddenly pulled herself free from Desireè, who was holding her fast, and ran out of the hall.
The stairs were sound enough, but slippery with damp and mould. They landed us in a very small square apartment, lighted by a grating close to the top. From this room, long, dark passages led away in two or three directions. I must confess, I was dreadfully scared, but Desireè's taunts had roused my pride, and I walked firmly on down one of the long alleys. I remember just how soft and velvety the ground felt under my feet, and how our footsteps yet seemed to wake a strange echo, as if some one were coming to meet us.
"There, you have walked twenty steps," said Amabel. "Now let us turn round."
"Just a few more, to be sure," said I.
I took a step or two more, but was checked by a sort of suppressed cry from Amabel.
"O Lucy, I cannot see the light at all!"
I turned round quickly enough at that. Sure enough, no light was to be seen. We were in total darkness.
"The passage must wind a little," said I. "Let us go back. We shall soon see the light from the passage-way."