whenever
they
liked.
There were
so many
stones
that it
was
impossible
to accept
them all,
so only a
few of the
best were
arranged
among the
shells on
the
shelves,
the rest
were piled
up in
corners,
to be
examined
by Dan at
his
leisure.
Every one
was eager
to give
something,
even
Silas, who
sent home
for a
stuffed
wild-cat
killed in
his youth.
It was
rather
moth-eaten
and
shabby,
but on a
high
bracket
and best
side
