'I will tell you if you like,' said Armorel, 'as much about myself as you please to hear.' The chief advantage of an autobiography--as you shall see, dear reader, if you will oblige me by reading mine, when it comes out--is the right of preserving silence upon certain points. Armorel, for example, said nothing at all about Roland Lee. Nor did she tell of the chagreen case with the rubies. But she did tell how she found the treasure of the sea-chest, and the cupboard, and how she took everything, except the punch-bowls and the silver ship and cups, to London, and how she gave them over to the lawyer to whom she had a letter. And she told how she was resolved to repair the deficiencies of her up-bringing, and how, for five long years, she had worked day and night. 'I think you are a very brave girl,' said Philippa. 'Most girls in your place would have been contented to sit down and enjoy their good fortune.' 'I was so very ignorant when I began. And--and one or two things had happened which made me ashamed of my ignorance.' 'Yet it was brave of you to work so hard.' 'At first,' said Armorel, 'when this good fortune came to me I was afraid, thinking of the Parable of the Rich Man.' Philippa started and looked astonished. In the circle of Dives this Parable is never mentioned. No one regardeth that Parable, which is generally believed to be a late interpolation. 'But when I came to think, I understood that it might be the gift of the Five Talents--a sacred trust.' Philippa's eyes showed no comprehension of this language. Armorel, indeed, had learned long since that the Bryanite or Early Christian language is no longer used in society. But Philippa was her cousin. Perhaps, in the family, it would still pass current. 'I worked most at music. Shall I play to you?' 'Nothing, dear Philippa,' said Zoe, half-turning round, 'would please you so much as to hear Armorel play. You used to play a little yourself'--Philippa had been the pride and glory of the school for her playing--'A little!' Had she lost her memory? 'Will you play this evening?' 'I brought her violin in the carriage,' said Zoe, softly. 'I wanted to give you as many delightful surprises as possible, Philippa. To find your cousin so beautiful: to hear her play: and to receive me again! This will be, indeed, an evening to remember.' 'I will play if you like,' said Armorel, simply. 'But perhaps you have made other arrangements.' 'No--no--you can play? But of course, you have had good masters. You shall play instead of me.' Zoe murmured her satisfaction, and turned again her face to the fire. 'Tell me, Armorel,' said Philippa, 'all this about the Vikings--the Hall of the Vikings--the Rovers--and the rest of it. Was it familiar to you?' 'No; I have never heard of any Vikings or Rovers. And there is no Hall.' 'We are, I suppose, really an old family of Scilly?'