ould then?"

"They may paint a better glass window, for aught I know," said
Lawrence; "but the painting will not be so good."

"That's curious," said Rupert. "I thought things went for'ard, and not
back, in the world. Why shouldn't they paint as well now as ever?"

Nobody spoke.

"Why should they not, Mr. St. Leger?" Dolly repeated.

"I don't know, I'm sure. Mrs. Copley, I'm afraid you are fatiguing
yourself."

Mrs. Copley yielded to this gentle suggestion; and long, long before
Dolly was ready to go, the party left the church to repair to a hotel,
and have some refreshment. They were all in high spirits by this time.

"Is it settled where we are to go next?" Mr. St. Leger inquired as they
sat at table.

"I don't care where _next_," said Mrs. Copley; "but only I want to come
out at Dresden."

"But Dresden, mother"--said Dolly gently, "it is not in our way to
Venice." She interpreted the expression she saw in Lawrence's face.

"Dolly, the Green vaults are in Dresden. I am not going to be so near
and not see them. Wasn't I right about the painted windows? I never saw
anything so beautiful in my life, nor you didn't. I wouldn't have
missed it for anything. Now you'll see if I ain't right about the Green
vaults."

"What do you expect to find in them?" Lawrence asked. "I do not
remember anything about such a mysterious place."

"I have heard about it in London," Mrs. Copley answered. "Somebody who
had been there told me about it, and I made up my mind I'd see it if
ever I got a chance. It is like having Aladdin's lamp and going down
into _his_ vault--only you can't take away what you've a mind to;
that's the only difference."

"But what is there? Aladdin's grotto was full of precious stones, if I
remember."

"And so are these," cried Mrs. Copley. "There is an egg with a hen in
it."

At this there was a general laugh.

"It's a fact," said Mrs. Copley. "And in the hen, or under it--_in_ the
hen, I believe--there is a crown of gold and diamonds and pearls, with
a motto. Oh, it's wonderful. It's better than the Arabian Nights, if
it's true."

"Except that we cannot take the egg away with us," said Lawrence.
"However--pray, do they let in the indiscriminate public to see these
wonders?"

"I don't know. I suppose there are ways to get in, or nobody would have
been in."

"No doubt; the problem is, to find the way. Influence may be necessary,
possibly."

"I daresay Mr. Copley can manage it. Do write and