" Could it be
from Papa? Then she looked at the cover; but it was not a bit like
the Captain's writing; it was pretty, lady-like, clear-looking hand-
writing, and puzzled her a great deal more. If the children had once
had a secret of their own, there was a very considerable one to
puzzle them now; and they could hardly believe that Miss Fosbrook
knew nothing about it, any more than themselves.
So restless and puzzled were they, that she thought they would never
be able to settle quietly to their lessons, and that it would save
idleness if she walked with them at once to Bonchamp to get the
money. It was two miles; but all three were stout walkers, and they
were delighted to go; indeed, they would have fancied that someone
else might run away with the ten shillings if they had not made haste
to secure it. So "David Douglas Merrifield" was written, with much
difficulty to make it small enough, in the very best and roundest
hand. The boys were put into clean blouses, Annie's striped cotton
came to light; and off set the party through the lanes, each with
sixpence in their hand, for it was poor fun to go to Bonchamp, unless
one had something to spend there.
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