ll, in a tone of unwonted tenderness.
"I don't mind telling you all about her, for you're a good soul, with a
feeling heart. Her loss was a terrible loss to me, though it was great
gain to her. Before her death we were separated for a time--only a
short time,--but it proved to be a blessed separation, for the letters
she wrote me sparkled with love and wit and playfulness, as though they
had been set with pearls and rubies and diamonds. I shall show you my
treasures before going to bed. I keep them in that box on the
sideboard, to be always handy. It is not large, but its contents are
more precious to me than thousands of gold and silver."

She paused; and then, observing that Tottie was staring at her, she
advised her to make the most of her opportunity, and eat as much as
possible.

"If you please, m'm, I can't eat any more," said Tottie.

"Can't eat more, child?--try," urged the hospitable lady.

Tottie heaved a deep sigh and said that she couldn't eat another morsel
if she were to try ever so much. As baby appeared to be in the same
happy condition, and could with difficulty keep his eyes open, both
children were sent to bed under the care of a maid, and Miss Stivergill,
taking down her treasure-box, proceeded to read part of its contents to
her bosom friend.

Little did good Miss Stivergill imagine that she had dug a mine that
night under Rosebud Cottage, and that the match which was destined to
light it was none other than her innocent _protegee_, little Bones.

Throwing herself into the receptive arms of her mother, two days after
the events just described, Tottie poured the delight and amazement of
her surcharged spirit into sympathetic ears. Unfortunately her glowing
descriptions also reached unsympathetic ears. Mrs Bones had happily
recovered her husband, and brought him home, where he lay in his
familiar corner, resting from his labours of iniquity. The
unsympathetic ears belonged to Mr Abel Bones.

When Tottie, however, in her discursive wandering began to talk of
pearls, and rubies, and diamonds, and treasures worth thousands of gold
and silver, in a box on the sideboard, the ears became suddenly
sympathetic, and Mr Bones raised himself on one elbow.

"Hush! darling," said Mrs Bones, glancing uneasily at the dark corner.

Mr Bones knew well that if his wife should caution Tottie not to tell
him anything about Rosebud Cottage, he would be unable to get a word out
of her. He therefore rose