"But it isn't really secret, is it? I mean anybody could find that little door outside Penny's room. It isn't really hidden... No, I believe there is some sort of a mystery about this room and that it is one of the reasons why I've given it to you both. It is your own room and you can do what you like here. You can have a fire if you like, and if you want to be up here at night you can go out into the town presently and see if you can buy an old oil lamp and hang it from one of the beams. Or better still, ask Fred if he can find one hidden away somewhere. Fred can generally find anything. But you must carry your own coal and oil and you must promise me to keep it clean yourselves, because I have told Mr. Grandon that none of the staff are to come past Penny's landing... You've got your key and, so far as I know, that's the only one in existence, so I shan't be able to come up here again unless I'm invited."

"You will be, darling," Penny promised. "But you'll be the only one... I think this is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me, don't you, Jon?"

But Jon had just seen a big, black tin box in a corner over by the fireplace, and although he was really just as excited as Penny, all he said now was, "What's that box, Mother? Did you know it was there?"

"Of course. I nearly forgot to tell you. See if you can lift it on the table here, Jon... Help him, Penny. Good!" She rummaged in her bag and produced another key, while the children stood by expectantly. "Here's the key to the box, Jon, and take care of that, too. The box is full of the old papers, books and things which were left for us, with the house, by dear old Uncle Charles. The solicitor, Mr. Harding, told me that Uncle thought that you, Jon, might like to sort out all the other papers and things for me. What are you grimacing about, Penny? Have you got a pain?"

Poor Penny, who had been trying to catch Jon's attention with a very meaning wink at the mention of the papers, tried to turn it into a laugh.

"No, thanks. Not a pain really. Just a bit of stitch, p'raps."

"I did tell you, didn't I?" Mrs. Warrender went on, "that everybody here says that the Dolphin was one of the inns most used by smugglers in the old days. I suppose that was because of its position and because there was a quick way down to the river by the steps at the end of the street there."

Mrs. Warrender looked down at her hands and went on.