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couldn't understand it, was rather like the music of a brook.
    The castle was laid out in a great square with rooms around each side facing out and a huge courtyard enclosed in the middle. It was gloomy because the windows, set in walls two feet thick, were small and narrow and so did not let in much light.
    Ned served as guide, pointing out each room, many of which seemed empty. In one particularly dingy corridor he lowered his voice dramatically. "This castle has secret passageways. And a priest hole."
    He turned wide eyes on me. "Do you know what a priest hole is?"
    I shook my head. "No, tell me." Let the boy show off a little.
    His chest seemed to expand. "Long time ago we were all Catholics. This bad king—" He hesitated, but I did not supply the king's name. "This king said we couldn't listen to  priests anymore. We had to get rid of them."
    He scowled. "But some people wouldn't. So they made secret rooms no one could find and they hid the priests there." He gave me a triumphant look. "And that's why they're called priest holes."
    I looked suitably impressed. "You're very good at history, Ned. Very good."
    The beginning of a smile tugged at his mouth. Then he frowned. "Yes, we have a priest hole, but if you find the way to go in,  don't go there by yourself. You could get lost and end up nothing but dry bones!"
    The twins looked very impressed, and I have to admit that my voice had a slight quaver as I asked, "Have you found these passageways yet?" The thought of a child lost in there was chilling.
    Ned shook his dark head. "Not yet. But I will."
    I felt it too soon to ask the boy for any promises concerning his safety and, besides, he sounded already warned by some adult. Those dire words about dry bones sounded more like Uncle Phillip than Ned's father. I could not imagine Cousin Julia considering bones of any value. It was the spirit she wished to contact. So she might find such passageways full of such possibilities.
    "How very exciting!" I cried. "This must be a fun place to live."
    All three of them stared at me. Then one of the twins said, "Too dark" and the other said, "Too gloomy." I was relieved to know they also spoke English.
    Ned snorted, his facing turning rosy at these insults to his home. "It’s a castle. Castles are supposed to be dark and gloomy!"
    Another piece of information gleaned from his elders, I thought.
    When we had come full circle back to the nursery, Ned paused. "You're really married to my father?"
    "Yes, Ned."
    I braced myself for another fierce outburst. But instead he said, "And you really like snakes?"
    I smiled. "I think they're fascinating creatures."
    He frowned. "Then you won't be mad that I left one in your desk drawer."
    "In the schoolroom?"
    He nodded, obviously not daring to believe what he was hearing.
    I smiled at him. "No, I'm not mad. What a lovely gift." I looked at the other boys. "Maybe we can make it a home in the nursery."
    The twins' mouths gaped open. Ned looked stunned, then he rallied. "I don't ... I don't think my father would like that. Besides, the snake might want to go home."
    My heart leaped with joy at this evidence of the boy's concern for a dumb creature, even while I sighed at the echo of the boy's own longing for a secure home. "That’s true," I agreed. "Perhaps we should just say hello to him and then take him outside, so he can go home."
    Ned nodded. "I only brought him up here because I miss Captain."
    I nodded, but I knew better. The boy had meant to drive me off as he had the others. And he undoubtedly had some other tricks left.
    "I think I'll speak to your father about Captain," I mused. "The dog must miss you."
    I saw the boy's lip quiver, but his voice was strong. "Yeah, I guess he does."
    * * * *
    When I returned to the main part of the castle, I was much heartened. I was sure Ned was a normal boy, somewhat overset by his mother's desertion, but some love should straighten him out. The twins didn't seem to present a problem. They, too, were