The Dark Night by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

WHILE Osric and Christopher had been hatching their conspiracy, Elsie and Anna had been sitting with Alice Brown under the willow by the side of the river.

It was a beautiful place. The river ran sparkling along, and made a cheerful, pleasant murmur against its banks. Just above the dam it was still and glassy, and poured over the edge of the dam in a smooth, even sheet. It was just the same, winter or summer, for it was the outlet of quite a large lake ten or twelve miles away, and was not affected by the dry weather. Across the river was a green bank, and above that the steep hillside in which General Dent's vault was built. The vault was shaded by trees, and the grass grew close to the threshold. The sun was shining on it, and a robin was sitting singing on one of the carved pinnacles over the door, but still Elsie thought it looked dismal.