k tree without stopping.
She would not give way to any weakness or the grief which threatened to
overwhelm her. She kept her mind steadily fixed upon the object she had
in view, with a power of concentration which only those who live in
solitude can ever attain to.

Aphrodite was there still in the bag lying on top of the heavy
iron-bound box in the secret passage, and she carried her out into the
sunlight and once more took the wrappings from the perfect face.

"You are coming with us, sweet friend," she whispered, and gazed long
into the goddess's eyes. What she saw there gave her comfort.

"Yes, I know," she went on gently. "I did say that, whatever came, I
would understand that it was life--And I do--and I know this evil pain
is only for the time--and so I will not admit its power. I will wait and
some day joy will return to me, like the swallow from the south. Mother,
I will grieve not."

And all the softest summer zephyrs seemed to caress her in answer, and
there she sat silent and absorbed, looking out to the blue hills for
more than an hour.

Then she saw Cheiron advancing up the beech avenue, and covering up
Aphrodite she went to meet him.

They came back to the second terrace and started upon their quest.

Mr. Carlyon had the greatest difficulty in keeping his old head bent to
get through the very low part of the dark arched place, and he held
Halcyone's hand. But at last they emerged into the one light spot and
there saw the breastplate and the box. But at first it seemed as if they
could not lift it; it had fallen with the lock downward. Cheiron,
although a most robust old man, had passed his seventieth year, and the
thing was of extreme heaviness. But at last they pushed and pulled and
got it upright, and finally, with tremendous exertions with a chisel Mr.
Carlyon had brought, managed to break open the ancient lock.

It gave with a sudden snap, and in breathless excitement they raised the
lid.

Inside was another case of wood. This also was locked, but at its side
lay an old key. The Professor, as well as his chisel, had prudently
brought a small bottle of oil, and eventually was able to make the key
turn in the lock, and they found that the box was in two compartments,
one entirely filled with gold pieces, and the other containing some
smaller heavy object enwound with silk.

They lifted it out and carried it to the light, and then with great
excitement they unrolled the coverings. It proved t