Page:Authors daughter v1.djvu/57

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AMY'S NEW HOME.
53

Can you mend this?" and she brought the workbox to Allan.

He wondered at the exceedingly handsome though not new workbox: It was of rosewood beautifully inlaid and most thoroughly finished. In the centre was a silver name-plate with the initials E. D. curiously interwoven and surmounted by a small coronet.

"This is a splendid piece of workmanship," said Allan, "only the screws of the hinges have never been strong enough. I can mend it easily if I can get small enough screws, and I think I have some; if not, I will send to Adelaide for them. I hope this handsome box will stand the climate; it is very severe on such things."

"It has been to Madeira and back already," said Amy. "It was mamma's, and I love it for her sake."

"Then I must take great pains with it. Would you mind coming into my workshop with me to see if I have screws that will suit?" said Allan, who knew that Dr. Burton had arrived, and who wished to keep Amy a short time longer out of the chamber of death. "You look like a city girl; I suppose you never saw anything like this before. Here is my forge and anvil, and the bellows I made myself; not very handsome, but they answer the purpose—they