ver
in great excitement, dropping the reins. "Not that it's much to be
wondered at, and you looking a young man when you left! Welcome home!
Welcome home!"

"Where are the children?" said Andre Olsheffsky, brokenly. "Perhaps
they're dead, too?"

"Oh, the children are all well, _Barin_! They are at Volodia
Ivanovitch's."

"Drive me there, then," said Mr. Olsheffsky; and the sledge dashed off
with a peal of its bells, and drew up with a flourish in front of
Volodia's doorway.

"Do look out, Elena!" cried Boris, who was carving a wooden man with
an immense pocket-knife. "Here's a sledge stopped, and a funny tall
gentleman getting out--not old, but all white!"

Elena went to the window, but the stranger had disappeared into the
shop.

They could hear voices talking, now loud, now soft, then a cry of
astonishment from Maria. The door burst open, and Volodia, his grey
hair flying, the tears rolling down his cheeks, dragged in the
white-haired gentleman by the hand.

"Oh, children! children! this is a happy day. The _Barin's_ come home.
This is your father!"

CHAPTER VIII.

The next morning Elena and Boris awoke with a delightful feeling of
expectation.

It seemed impossible to realize that their father had really come back
to them, and that he was dearer and kinder than anything they had
imagined!

"If only mamma were here," sighed Elena, "_how_ happy we should be!"

"Perhaps she knows," said Boris soberly. "She always told us papa was
a hero, and I'm sure he looks like one."

Andre Olsheffsky felt his wife's loss deeply. The children were his
only comfort, and every moment he could spare from his business
affairs he gave to them.

With Elena he discussed their position seriously.

It would be impossible, he said, to prove their claim to Madame
Olsheffsky's estate unless the lost box could be recovered, but if
that were ever found the papers inside would completely establish
their right. "I have sent notices to all the peasants, describing the
box, and offering a reward. Who knows, Elena? it _may_ be discovered!"

Time passed on, and though Mr. Olsheffsky made many expeditions into
the town of Mourum, and drove all round the country, making enquiries
of the peasants, he could hear nothing of the wooden box.

"It's one of the secrets of the lake," said Volodia. "That's my
opinion; it's lying snugly at the bottom there; and it's no good
looking for it anywhere else."

But Mr. Olsheffsky continued hi