the wall, and shivered a little inside when he thought of what Sydney
had told him about it.

Directly after that they went indoors to have supper and go to bed. As
they were undressing it was discovered that Madge had lost a coral
necklace she had on. It was a fancy of her mother's that Madge should
always wear this, as it was a present from a dead godmother, and the
question now was where it had been dropped.

"She had it on at the gooseberry-bushes," said Walter, "for I saw it."

Nurse was just then undressing Johnny.

"You can run down the garden and look for it, Master Walter," said
she. "It gets dark so fast I shan't be able to see by the time I've
got you all in bed."

Madge was already in her dressing-gown, and in spite of much entreaty
was not allowed to go.

So away went Walter full of importance, for the moment quite
forgetting where he was going. But scarcely had he got outside the
door when he remembered the dreadful tree, and fear took possession of
him.

How could he go? He would have to pass the elder-bush if he went all
round the path where they had walked with nurse. Dare he do it?

[Illustration:]