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CHAPTER XI GEMS FROM SHAKESPEARE

IT was an exciting moment when Mary stood with the “Gems from Shakespeare” in her hand, declaring that this was not a book at all, but something else! What was it, then, which made her so excited? Caliban eyed her from the desk benevolently. “Miaou!” he cried. But no one noticed him.

“What do you think it is, Mary?” cried John. For he, too, saw in a moment that it was not a mere book at which his sister was gazing with wide eyes.

The back, with its green-and-gold leather and its label, “Gems from Shakespeare,” matched the rest of the set, so far. And the sides were flat and cover-like. But the front and top and ends, where the edges of leaves would naturally show in any proper book, were enclosed in leather, so as to make the whole thing into a sort of case.

“It’s a box!” said Mary solemnly.

John thrust his face up close to the mystery, and presently he gave a start. In the end where[92] you would naturally open the book to read, he had spied something strange.

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“Oh, Mary!” he cried; “Look! Here is a little keyhole! I believe we’ve found the clue to your key that was in the lantern. Have you got the key here? Quick, Mary!”

Mary was shaking the box very gently. “Something rattles!” she said. “What do you suppose it is?”

“Oh, do be careful. Maybe it is something breakable. Hurry and find out what it is!” begged John in the greatest excitement.

Mary always wore the puzzling key about her neck, on the green silk cord which had come with it. She now pulled it out, and they carried the “Gems from Shakespeare” over to the table, so that they might see better under the lamp.

Just then there came a knock at the door, and both children jumped as if they had been caught in doing something wrong. “Mary! John!” cried the voice of their mother, “where are you both? What in the world are you doing? I rang the bell for tea three times; and I never knew you both to be so late before!”

“Oh, come in, Mother,” said Mary; “do come in, quickly!”

[93]The door opened, and there stood Mrs. Corliss with the Doctor close behind her.

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