tient children. When would she
leave off turning the yellow packet in her fingers, and poring over the
faded writing outside? At last the seal is broken, and two pairs of
eager eyes narrowly watch Miss Clare's face as she scans the contents.

"It _is_ the long-lost letter!" she exclaimed in astonishment. "Where
did you find it?"

Both quickly explained, adding, "Do read it, auntie; what does Miss
Marjorie say?"

So in a trembling voice Miss Clare read the words penned by a dying hand
fifty years before,--

"MY DEAREST ANNA,--I feel that I have but a short time
longer to live, and but one thing disturbs my peace. It is
the presentiment that sooner or later the thoughtless
extravagance of your brother George will bring you all into
trouble. It is little I can do to avert this calamity, but
years of economy have enabled me to save 280_l._ (which is
concealed beneath the floor in my room, under the third
plank from the south window, about ten inches from the
wall). I wish you, niece Anna, to hold this money in trust,
as a profound secret, and to be used _only_ in case of an
emergency such as I have hinted. In the event of none such
taking place before your sister is of age, you are then to
divide the money, equally between yourself, George and
Lucy, to use as you each may please. Hoping that I have
made my purpose clear, and that my ever trustworthy Anna
will faithfully carry out my wishes, I pray that the
blessing of God may rest richly on my nephew and nieces,
and bid you, dearest girl, farewell.

"MARJORIE WESTFORD.
"January 2nd, 1825."

Miss Clare's eyes were dim when she finished these words, sounding, as
they did, like a voice from the grave, while Kate and Aubrey sat in
spellbound silence. The boy was the first to speak.

"Do you think it is still there?"

"There is no reason why it should not be," replied Miss Clare; "indeed
it seems that this legacy, so strangely hidden for half a century, and
as strangely brought to light, is to be the means by which our Father
will bring us out of our present difficulties."

"Get a light, Katie, and let's look for the treasure; that will be the
best way of making sure that our adventure isn't the result of a
mince-pie supper," suggested Aubrey, producing his tool-box.

So they all proceeded to the room, now seldom entered, where M