And then there was the calm voice of the Masked Lady: "Now you can see!"

The room was lighted again! The Masked Lady had arisen from her place.
She was holding the lighted candle above her head.

Not a second was wasted by Everychild. He hurriedly crossed the room
and took the key from its peg. He unlocked the closet door.

Cinderella thrust the door open and burst into the room.

"I couldn't leave you there, you know," said Everychild.

Cinderella regarded him intently. "You could not leave me there--no,"
she said; "and you shall not leave me in this house, where I meet only
indignities and abuse. Come, I am going with you."

Not another word was needed. Hand in hand they approached the outer
door. For a moment Everychild disengaged his hand to remove the bar
from before the door. He opened the door, and then hand in hand they
passed the threshold.

As if she were moving quite absent-mindedly the Masked Lady went and
closed the door behind them. She put the bar back in its place. She
pondered a moment and then she re-locked the closet door, replacing the
key on its wooden peg.

There was a sound of footsteps approaching; and instantly the light
went out, though the Masked Lady had not blown upon it.

Pitch darkness for a moment, then the flash of a light. The mother of