She stood there irresolute. Her conscience told her that she should not open it. Her aunt had left the key by an oversight, and she should not take advantage of it. On the other hand, Val was waiting for her at the top of the stairs. Apparently it was most important that he should be hidden; and then—his mention of Marjorie. He had said that Marjorie would have done it; that she would have helped him. This decided the question in Elizabeth's mind. She would try to atone to Val if she could for the loss of his cousin, and perhaps it would have the effect of making him care for her, his sister.
She opened the desk, and easily finding the little Chinese cabinet, she took out the keys, closed the desk again, and ran up stairs.
It was a whole year since she had entered the closed room. She had not been there since she and Val locked the door after the departure of the Brady girls, and now together they were opening it again.
"The first thing," said he, "is to give me something to eat. I am as hungry as a hunter. And then I will tell you why I came."
Elizabeth ran down to the pantry. There were crackers to be found there, and some fresh cake, and there was fruit on the sideboard in the dining-room. She filled two plates, and thus laden she hastened up the stairs again. Val had opened the blinds and drawn a chair to the window, and had made himself completely at home.
"I am mighty glad to get here," he remarked, "and it was the greatest piece of luck to have you come to the window. I did not know how I was going to get in, for it is very important that no one but you should know that I am here. I hung around the corner till I thought I saw the aunts' carriage drive off, and then you came and sat at the window."
"But, Val, why can't you be seen, and how long are you going to stay? I am sure I cannot hide you long, and I don't know what Aunt Caroline will say when she finds it out. I really think she feels worse about this room than she ever did."
"Leave it all to me, and do just as I say," returned Valentine, loftily. "If you don't go and make a mull of it, she'll never know. And now I will tell you why I am here, only first you must promise, on your word of honor, that you won't give me away."
"I promise—at least I think I do," said Elizabeth, slowly. "But wait a minute, Val. I wish you would let me tell Patsy."
"Who is Patsy?"