Do you know I offended her dreadfully by peeping into the gold case she wears on her neck?
She was asleep and I was sitting by her.

In her sleep she pulled it out and said something about a letter and Papa.

I wanted to see Papa's face, for I never did, because the big picture of him is gone from the gallery where the others are, so I peeped into the case when she let it drop and was so disappointed to find nothing but a key." "A key! What sort of a key ?" cried Paul in an eager tone.
"Oh, a little silver one like the key of my piano, or the black cabinet.
She woke and was very angry to find me meddling." "What did it belong to ?" asked Paul.
"Her treasure box, she said, but I don't know where or what that is, and I dare not ask any more, for she forbade my speaking to her about it.
Poor Mamma! I'm always troubling her in some way or other." With a penitent sigh, Lillian tied up her flowers and handed them to Paul to carry.

As she did so, the change in his face struck her.
"How grim and old you look," she exclaimed.

"Have I said anything that troubles you ?" "No, Miss Lillian.