The path led him straight to the group of buildings . All seemed to be sorely dilapidated : the windows of the house were secured by crazy shutters ; the stables were open and empty ; there was no hay in the hay-loft , no corn in the corn-box . Any one would have supposed the place to be deserted . But Dick had good reason to think otherwise . He continued his inspection , visiting the offices , trying all the windows . At length he came round to the sea-side of the house , and there , sure enough , there burned a pale light in one of the upper windows . He stepped back a little way , till he thought he could see the movement of a shadow on the wall of the apartment . Then he remembered that , in the stable , his groping hand had rested for a moment on a ladder , and he returned with all despatch to bring it . The ladder was very short , but yet , by standing on the topmost round , he could bring his hands as high as the iron bars of the window ; and seizing these , he raised his body by main force until his eyes commanded the interior of the room . Two persons were within ; the first he readily knew to be Dame Hatch ; the second , a tall and beautiful and grave young lady , in a long , embroidered dress -- could that be Joanna Sedley ? his old wood-companion , Jack , whom he had thought to punish with a belt ? He dropped back again to the top round of the ladder in a kind of amazement . He had never thought of his sweetheart as of so superior a being , and he was instantly taken with a feeling of diffidence . But he had little opportunity for thought . A low `` Hist ! '' sounded from close by , and he hastened to descend the ladder . `` Who goes ? '' he whispered . `` Greensheve , '' came the reply , in tones similarly guarded . `` What want ye ? ''
asked XXXXX .
Dick Hatch Hist Jack Sedley despatch first hay-loft sea-side second