at
care. On opening the lid he revealed a second box; and this was so
beautiful that it drew exclamations of delight from both Grace and her
mother. The inner box was made of gold, and it was covered with fruit
and flowers and birds, all wrought in wonderful _repousse_ work.

There was some difficulty in finding how this golden box was to be
opened; but a little examination brought to light a secret spring, and
at the first pressure the lid of the box flew back and the central
treasure of the Magic Cabinet was exposed to view.

Grace gave a cry of disappointment, for, lying in a snug little nest of
pink cotton-wool, she saw only a dull, ugly-looking stone.

Mrs. Goodman did not speak, but looked earnestly at her husband as he
took the stone from its resting-place and held it close under the light.
He took a glass from his pocket and examined it carefully for a moment,
and then laid it back in the golden box again, and said, "It is a
diamond, and, I believe, a very valuable one."

"But it isn't a bit pretty and sparkly like the diamonds in the shop
windows," said Grace. "What is the good of it?"

"It is a wonderful magic gift," answered her father. "All that money can
do for us, this dull-looking stone can do. It can buy all the things
mother needs to make her strong and well."

"And it can print father's book, and make us all as happy as we were in
your dream," said her mother.

Mr. Goodman now took the little sandal-wood drawer in his hand again,
and, under another piece of Indian silk, he found a letter.

"My dear, this is for you," he said; "and see--surely this must be your
Uncle Jacob's writing?"

Mrs. Goodman took the envelope from his hand, and read the inscription,
which was written in strange, angular characters:

"TO MY NIECE."

Her hand shook a little as she broke the seal and drew out a small sheet
of paper covered closely with the same writing, and her voice was
unsteady as she read the old man's letter aloud.

"My dear Niece,--When my will is read you may be surprised
to find that I have left you only one gift--my old Indian
cabinet. But I value it very highly, and I believe that for
my sake you will never willingly part with it. I am rich,
and if you needed money I could leave you plenty; but you
have enough and to spare at present, and I hope you will
never know the want of it. But still, I mean to make one
slight provision for you. Authors are