So they wandered about for another half-hour, and then even Audrey owned it would be better to go in.
"Let's have one more look in the church," said Stephen; "I want to see if the swallow has gone to sleep."
They climbed on the stone, but they could see nothing. The old church was quite dark now, and Stephen tried in vain to see the swallow in its nest. They could only distinguish the outline of the chancel window, and Audrey thought she could see the pulpit with its heavy top, but she could not be sure even of that.
"Let's go," said little Stephen, shivering; "it looks more like the Kingdom of Darkness than before."
"LOOK, STEPHEN!" SHE CRIED. "WHAT'S THAT?"
He was climbing quickly down from the gravestone when Audrey called him.
"Look, Stephen," she cried. "What's that?"
The child got on his feet again and pulled himself up to the window. When he had looked into the church a moment before all had been dark, but now a bright light streamed across the chancel. They could see the old, crooked stone pillars standing out clearly against it; they could distinguish the communion table, and the wooden rail in front of it; they could see the high pews and the uneven stone floor; they could even make out the swallow's nest in the arch nearest to the pulpit.
"What can it be?" said Stephen, trembling from head to foot.