"I'm—I'm afraid," said the boy, after a moment's pause. "I don't like that tomb. I don't like to go past it."
"Pooh! If that's all, I'll take you past it."
Nancy took his hand and walked bravely down the steps.
"Look, I'm not afraid," she said when they reached the grave, and she suited action to words by kicking the unoffending sepulchre with her slipper.
"Stop!" cried Edward, pulling her back. "Aren't you coming with me?"
"No, of course not."
"You're not?" he echoed in amazement.
Nancy had a delicious feeling of terror in her own foolhardiness.
"I'm not ready to come yet."
Edward stopped for an instant, wondering if he ought not to stay; then he turned and fled while Nancy, who gladly would have followed him, tried to walk unconcernedly, as though her heart were not pounding with fear, back to the platform on the wall.