m; and
there, seated at the usual places round the table, they began to
prepare their work for the following day.

"Guy," said Ida suddenly, "are you _sure_ you were telling the truth
about that methylated spirit?"

"Of course I was! D'you think I'd lie?"

"You _do_ tell crams sometimes," put in Elsie, who was not going to
see her brother pose as an angel of light without having a word to say.

"Shut up, Elsie! I tell you I haven't been near the bottle. It's weeks
since I last worked the engine.--Isn't it, Brian?"

Brian looked up from his book. "Yes," he answered. "It's a month, I
should say. There was something wrong with the cylinder, and Cole put it
right."

"There, I told you so!" retorted Guy. "Now, perhaps you'll believe what
I say."

For some time no one spoke. Elsie finished one of her lessons, and sat
back in her chair for a moment's rest.

"I say," she murmured, "suppose Uncle Roger's box was full of bank-notes,
d'you suppose father would let us have a pony? I think I should ask him
to buy one."

Guy and Ida both looked up from their books.

"Get away!" cried the boy. "What rot! I wouldn't mind offering to pay
you a shilling for every bank-note that's found in that stupid old
chest. But, I say," he added, "fancy having a real live pony! It would
be ripping!"

[Illustration: ELSIE]

CHAPTER IV.

THE BOX OPENED.

[Illustration]

It seemed as if Thursday would never come. The four children were
longing to know what was inside the box. Even Guy was inclined to
abandon his idea that it was empty, and Elsie had quite made up her mind
that it contained something wonderful. The excitement increased as the
time drew nearer when the big blue seals would be broken, and the wonder
seemed to be how any one could have waited twenty years for this to take
place.

On Wednesday, when the family were gathered at dinner, Mrs. Ormond made
a suggestion which was not at first received with unanimous approval.

"As all you children are anxious to see the box opened," she said, "I
think instead of its being done at breakfast time to-morrow, it had
better be postponed till after tea."

"O mother!" protested Guy and Elsie in the same breath. "What d'you want
to do that for?"

"It's always a rush to get you started for school in the morning," was
the answer. "If there's anything to hinder you, you're sure to be late.
Considering that the box has been waiting to be opened for so many
years, I'm sure