What was in it ? '' asked the boy , as she paused at the catastrophe . `` No one ever knew but my lady . '' `` She destroyed it , then ? '' `` I thought so , till a long time afterward , one of the lawyers came pestering me with questions , and made me ask her . She was ill at the time , but answered with a look I shall never forget , ` No , it 's not burnt , but no one shall ever see it . ' I dared ask no more , but I fancy she has it safe somewhere and if it 's ever needed she 'll bring it out . It was only some private matters , I fancy . '' `` And the stranger ? '' `` Oh , he vanished as oddly as he came , and has never been found . A strange story , lad . Keep silent , and let it rest . '' `` No fear of my tattling , '' and the boy smiled curiously to himself as he bent over the book , polishing the brassbound cover . `` What are you doing with that pretty white wax ? '' asked Lillian the next day , as she came upon Paul in a quiet corner of the garden and found him absorbed in some mysterious occupation . With a quick gesture he destroyed his work , and , banishing a momentary expression of annoyance , he answered in his accustomed tone as he began to work anew , `` I am molding a little deer for you , Miss Lillian . See , here is a rabbit already done , and I 'll soon have a stag also . '' `` It 's very pretty ! How many nice things you can do , and how kind you are to think of my liking something new . Was this wax what you went to get this morning when you rode away so early ? ''
XXXXX the child .
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