Year: 1874

spectral images of his collection float
ing away in the direction of Dimbley's.


He grew worse and worse, to my in
expressible grief. 1t one morning
passed around the house in mysterious
way that we were to loose him. Some
one came running for me and took me
by the hand to lead me to him. There
was piteous intelligence in his eye,
and CLEAN of light came into it as he
saw me. He was moving his arms and
pointing and trying to speak.


The lady who was his wife kept turn
ing up her eyes and shaking her head,
as if she would say her wits were gone.
But he kept his imploring glance fixed
on me, making as though he would
| clutch something in his hand. l was
of his pet treasures, and stole away to
wreck my little brain with desperate
attempts. at first, thought it must be
the two precious figures of Old Bow,
representing Kitty Give and Wood
ward Martin, as the fine lady and gen.
tlemsn, and I returned with these in
my hands. A fresh eagerness came
into his eyes and he seemed to smile
and nod his head, as though it were
something near what he desired.


| Some curious stupidity came over
me-or was it my troublef for surely
ought to have guessed, and gone out to
choose some other article which should
be the right one. While was taking
bird's-eye glance over the collection,
they came running to me again and 1
was dragged in to see the last friend
had Oh earth in his agony.


So he passed away; and after a
scarcely decent interval, the two women
were going about with avaricious eyes,
counting up the treasures. This time
there was no one to interfere with
"Dimbley's man." and the eminent
firm had pronounced that the whole,
when submitted to competition at their
well-known mart, would bring vast
sum. By the will Of the deceased col
lector, made shortly after his second
marriage, the whole of his property was
to go to her and small pittance was
kept for us-that is, for me and my sis.
ter, who was at cheap boarding
school.


A great fuss began to be made about
the Crinkleton collection, and it was
discovered that another portion was at
some museum in the country, where it
had been exhibited and which was
quite as valuable as that in our house.
The whole, it was expected, would
bring 100000 or G12, ZOO. They were
gloating over their prospect. We
that is, my sister and would be beg
gars, but that they did not think
about.


By-and-bye the inventory was taken,
the catalogue made out and the pros
pect discovered to be even more in
viting. The men in green baize ar
rived to pack and carry away. Spring
vans stood at the door. We saw the
whole stripped gradually-there was
not to be relic kept ESQ [ was told) to
remind us of the dear old collector
who had brought them together. Very
timorously I begged that they would
let me choose something which I might
keep as souvenir but an excuse was
that it would be impossible to make
any alteration now.


Utterly shocked, ,and almost desperate
with rage at such heartlessness, came
to the resolution that I would have
what wanted, and determined to se-
cure what was associated with one of
the last acts of my fathers life at which
had assisted, namely, the old teapot.
That should be mine and should not be
subjected to the proclamation of sale.
did not care for the penalties, which
knew would be awful; they might
put me to torture, they should never
know where had concealed this relic.


My plans were laid. chose q mo-
nent when they had gone out, and,
taking no one into my confidence, pre-
pared to execute the daring scheme.
It was nervous task. The teapot was
placed, with few other articles not
yet removed, on a high bracket Of
antique pattern, over the chimney
piece. Even standing on q chair
could not reach it; still was not to be
daunted. I constructed a sort of lad
der formed of chairs, which, with much
trepidation, ascended. secured the
! grotesque teapot, but, without ever
having heard the Latin quotation
" Facilis descencus," L found myself
cordially indorsing its truth, and stood
there on precarious balance, carefully
holding the treasure and not knowing
what to do next. To get down and
leave the teapot, it might be thought,
would be the simplest course but, with
my nervousness and its own insecurity,
the structure now began to totter. The
next instant heard her on the stairs.


When they were tired of scolding and
beating they had gone down stairs !;
then, after waiting patiently, watched
my opportunity and stole down. They
had not thought it worth while to re-.
move the fragments which lay there in
heap-the curved handle, the leering
face, the spout, the lid. Igathered
them up tenderly, and, as did 80, saw
that small piece of paper, folded up,
was lying, as it were, partially thrust
into the spout. took it up with the
pieces, on the ground that it was relic
of his that ought to be preserved, and