was not at all despondent about this; he had made up his mind that a pupil must come in the course of the day; and that was enough for him. His little quibbling from Shakspeare about the snuff had put him in the best of good humours. He went on making quotations, talking elocution, and eating bread and butter, as brisk and happy, as if all Tidbury had combined to form one mighty class for him, and resolved to pay ready money for every lesson.

But after breakfast, when the things were taken away, the old man seemed suddenly to recollect something which changed his manner altogether. He grew first embarrassed; then silent; then pulled out his Shakspeare, and began to read with ostentatious assiduity, as if he were especially desirous that nobody should speak to him.

At the same time, a close observer might have detected Mr." Julius Cæsar " making various uncouth signs and grimaces to Annie, which the little girl apparently understood, but did not know how to answer. At last, with an effort, as if she were summoning extraordinary resolution, she said :—

No answer from Mr. Wray. Probably, he was too much absorbed over Shakspeare to hear.

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Grandfather," repeated Annie, in a louder tone;

you promised to explain a certain mystery to us, on my birthday."

Mr. Wray was obliged to hear this time. He looked up with a very perplexed face.

"Yes, dear," said he; "I did promise; but I almost wish I had not. It's rather a dangerous mystery to explain, little Annie, I can tell you! Why should you be so very curious to know about it?"

"I'm sure, grandfather," pleaded Annie, "you can't say I am over-curious, or Julius Cæsar either, in wanting to know it. Just recollect-we had been only three days at Stratford-upon-Avon, when you came in, looking so dreadfully frightened, and said we must go away directly. And you made us pack up; and we all went off in a hurry, more like prisoners escaping, than honest people."

"We did!" groaned old Reuben, beginning to look like a culprit already.

"Well," continued Annie; "and you wouldn't tell us a word of what it was all for, beg as hard as we might. And then, when we asked why you never let that old cash-box (which I used to keep my odds and ends in) out of your own hands, after we left Stratford-you wouldn't tell us that, either, and ordered us never to mention the thing again. It was only in one of your particular good humours, that I just got you to promise you would tell us all about it on my next birthday-to celebrate the day, you said. I'm sure we are to be trusted with any secrets; and I don't think it's being very curious to want to know this."

"Very well!" said Mr. Wray, rising, with a sort of desperate calmness; "I've promised, and, come what may, I'll keep my promise. Wait here; I'll be back directly." And he left the room, in a great hurry.

He returned immediately, with the cash-box. A very battered, shabby affair, to make such a mystery about! thought Annie, as he put the box on the table, and solemnly laid his hands across it.

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Now, then," said old Wray, in his deepest

tragedy-tones, and with very serious looks; "Promise me, on your word of honour-both of you-that you'll never say a word of what I'm going to tell, to anybody, on any account whatever I don't care what happens-on any account whatever!"

Annie and her lover gave their promises directly, and very seriously. They were getting a little agitated by all these elaborate preparations for the coming disclosure.

"Shut the door!" said Mr. Wray, in a stage whisper. "Now sit close and listen; I'm ready to explain the mystery."

E

CHAPTER IV.

THE MYSTERY OF THE CASH-BOX.

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"I SUPPOSE," said old Reuben, you have neither of you forgotten that, on the second day of our visit to Stratford, I went out in the afternoon to dine with an intimate friend of mine, whom I'd known from a boy, and who lived at some little distance from the

town.

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Forget that!" cried Annie!" I don't think we ever shall I was frightened about you, all the time you were gone.'

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Frightened about what?" asked Mr. Wray sharply. "Do you mean to tell me, Annie, you suspected "

"I don't know what I suspected, grandfather; but I thought your going away by yourself, to sleep at your friend's house (as you told us), and not to