been lost.

Yes; when we came to look into matters, to count the packages, and to
find out where we were, the box with the hole in the canvas was not
there. Or, at any rate, Mrs. Greene said it was not there. I worked
hard to look it up, and even went into Sophonisba's bed-room in my
search. In Sophonisba's bed-room there was but one canvas-covered
box. "That is my own," said she, "and it is all that I have, except
this bag."

"Where on earth can it be?" said I, sitting down on the trunk in
question. At the moment I almost thought that she had been
instrumental in hiding it.

"How am I to know?" she answered; and I fancied that even she was
dismayed. "What a fool that woman is!"

"The box must be in the house," I said.

"Do find it, for papa's sake; there's a good fellow. He will be so
wretched without his money. I heard him say that he had only two
pounds in his purse."

"Oh, I can let him have money to go on with," I answered grandly. And
then I went off to prove that I was a good fellow, and searched
throughout the house. Two white boxes had by order been left
downstairs, as they would not be needed; and these two were in a large
cupboard of the hall, which was used expressly for stowing away
luggage. And then there were three in Mrs. Greene's bed-room, which
had been taken there as containing the wardrobe which she would