Marjory was afraid that their unpunctuality boded ill for the chance of getting the doctor's consent to their trying to open the old chest. They sat demurely, taking their soup in silence. After a little while sounds were heard like the fizzling of ginger beer in hot weather, and at last Blanche burst into a peal of laughter. Marjory looked anxiously at Dr. Hunter to see what he thought of this disturbance, but to her relief and surprise he was laughing too. Really her Uncle George was getting much nicer than he used to be, she thought.
"Well, Blanche, what's the joke?" he asked.
As soon as she could speak she replied,--
"It's Alan; he does look so _dreadfully_ funny--one bit of hair sticking up, and the rest all plastered so smooth and meek-looking, and his face--oh dear!" And she laughed again. "I'm sure he was never meant to look so solemn."
Alan instinctively put up his hand to try to persuade the offending lock of hair to keep its proper place, but as soon as he took away his hand up jumped the hair again. He blushed deeply, realizing that the attention of the party, and especially of the doctor, who, to him, was a most awesome personage, was fixed upon himself; but in the end he joined in the laugh against his appearance as heartily as the rest.
Thus the ice was broken, and conversation began to flow, soon developing into a graphic account of the rat hunt.
"I saw Peter careering about like a youngster," said the doctor, laughing. "He'll be sorry enough to-morrow when he's as stiff as a board, but I believe he enjoyed the fun as much as any of you." And he laughed again.
Marjory thought that this would be a good opportunity for her to make her request.
"May we try again to open the chest, please, uncle?" she asked.
"Why, the oak chest in the old wing. We do so want to see what's in it."
"Nonsense, Marjory. I tell you it has been there ever since I can remember, and there's nothing in it as far as I know." Seeing the disappointment in the young people's faces as he said this, he relented, saying, "Well, well, I suppose I must let you have your way. You may try if you like, but I won't have you using any tools. It's a fine old piece of wood, and I don't want it spoiled."