米尔德里德和伊内兹被困在墙内，两人很快镇定下来思索出去的办法，此时她们消除先前的误会，团结起来……
Mildred silently turned and regarded her companion.Her eyes were not hard and cold now.They were glowing with anxiety and terror.
"Cannot we get out？"demanded Inez.
Mildred shook her head.
"Not the way we came in，"she replied."I remember now that Cristoval warned me never to close the door behind me；but I forgot to tell you that，so you are not to blame."Inez looked down at baby，who had again fallen asleep，snuggleda close to her breast.Her fear at this time was not for herself.It was dreadful to think of the danger she had placed the darling baby in—the child she would have died rather than injure.
Mildred saw the look and read its anguish.Her own cheeks blanched for a moment，but there was an inherent quality of courage in this girl that forbade her to despair.Speaking as much to herself as to Inez she said：
"We were able to open this adobe door only by pressing downward on a block of the floor outside，which released a catch which is securely hidden in the lower edge of the opening—where I cannot reach it.So，unless some one knew the secret and could press that block in the nursery，the door cannot again be opened."Inez staggered to a stool and sat down.
"Must we stay here always？"she pleaded piteouslyb.
"I think not.I am sure not，Inez.They will ？nd some way to break through the wall and rescue us.""But no one knows we are here！""True.Well，I believe there are other ways to get out of this hollow wall，besides the opening we came through.I am quite certain I was told that Se？or Cristoval could enter from his room，on the second floor；and perhaps there are other entrances.Stay here and keep baby quiet and I will make an examination of our prison."As she started to ascend the stairs Inez arose to follow her."Let me come，too，"she begged."I am afraid to stayalone.""Very well；but try not to waken baby."The stairs were built the full width of the space，completely blocking it at that end.At the top they stepped into another narrow room，which was not over the lower one but extended farther along the wall.It was，indeed，extraordinary to note how comfortable the genius of that ancient Cristoval who had planned the place，had made this originally comfortless corridor—like room，for room it was despite its narrow con？nes.
The ceiling was high，and light and air were admittedby gratings placed at the top，letting onto the bastiona of the roof，where they could not be observed by those below.The gratings were covered by projections that kept out the rainand dew.On the floor was a thick carpet，somewhat musty and dusty now，and at the far end was placed a couch with silken curtains.This was still piled high with bedding and pillows and was boxed in，the full width of the passage，with elaboratelya carved woods.Upholstered seatsb，rather narrow but long and quite comfortable，were built against the wall and supported by richly carved frames of ebony and panels of cherry.There were pictures upon the walls；oil paintings of quite good quality.A sort of wall—cabinet and some small brackets supported numerous hooks，ornaments，and several boxes of metal and sandalwoodc，which last Mildred eyed expectantly but had now no leisure to examine.
The girls were both awed by this discovery，for Mildredhad never been permitted to mount the stair to this room when Se？or Cristoval had allowed her to peep into the lower passage.The intense silence lent a weirdness to the place that was at ？rst quite disconcerting.A gray rat scuttled along the carpet，causing them to jump and cry out，and then disappeared somewhere beneath the couch.Inez，trembling with nervous fear，hugged the baby with one arm and clutched Mildred's arm with the other，and then they sat together on one of the cushioned seats and tried to collect their thoughts.
Mildred reflected that no person had entered this place for at least eight years，for it was eight years since the lastCristoval had passed to his fathers.Yet，aside from the dust，everything seemed in an excellent state of preservation.The secret room had been fitted up by its builder more than fifty years before and much of the furnishings must have been placed there then.
"My first task，"she said to Inez，"must be to make athorough examination of this place.Since there is no one to help us，we must help ourselves，and any weakness at this time would be fatal."With this she rose and carefully began to inspect the walls.The heavy carpet was merely laid ？at on the adobe ？oor and she raised it here and there and tested the blocks to see if any was movable.There was no means of reaching the ceiling but an opening there was out of the question.
