and found it real. Auntie Hester and Auntie Rachel examined
it. Boulou was requested to smell it. And then it was laid on the grass,
and the pocket-handkerchief which had done duty as a table-cloth was
spread over it.

The migrations of the half-penny were so extraordinary that even Rachel
and Hester professed amazement. Once it was found in Rachel's hand, into
which another large hand had gently shut it. But it was never discovered
twice in the same place, though all the children rushed religiously to
look for it where it was last discovered.

Another time, after a long search, the doll in the bath was discovered
to be sitting upon it, and once it actually flew down Regie's back; and
amid the wild excitement of the children its cold descent was described
by Regie in piercing minuteness until the moment when it rolled out over
his stocking at his knee.

"Make it fly down my back too, Uncle Dick," shrieked Mary. "Regie, give
it to me."

But Regie danced in a circle round Dick, holding aloft the wonderful
half-penny.

"Make it fly down my throat," he cried, too excited to know what he was
doing, and he put the half-penny in his mouth.

"Put it out this instant," said Dick, without moving.

A moment's pause followed, in which the blood ebbed away from the hearts
of the two women.

"I can't," said Regie; "I've swallowed it." And he began to whimper, and
then suddenly rolled on the grass screaming.

Dick pounced upon him like a panther, and held him by the feet head
downward, shaking him violently. The child's face was terrible to see.

Hester hid her face in her hands. Rachel rose and stood close to Dick.

"I think the shaking is rather too much for him," she said, watching the
poor little purple face intently. "I'm bound to go on," said Dick,
fiercely. "Is it moving, Regie?"

"It's going down," screamed Regie, suddenly.

"That it's not," said Dick, and he shook the child again, and the
half-penny flew out upon the grass. "Thank God," said Dick, and he laid
the gasping child on Hester's lap and turned away.

A few minutes later Regie was laughing and talking, and feeling himself
a hero. Presently he slipped off Hester's knee and ran to Dick, who was
lying on the grass a few paces off, his face hidden in his hands.

"Make the half-penny fly again, Uncle Dick," cried all the children,
pulling at him.

Dick raised an ashen face for a moment and said, hoarsely, "Take them
away."

Hester gathered up the chi