“I’ve found things up in the attic!” exclaimed John triumphantly. “Caliban showed me the way. It was all his doings. I think he did it on purpose--to help Mary.” “To help Mary! What in the world do you mean?” cried Mrs. Corliss. “Have you found a treasure, John, or some more mysterious secrets?” “Well, no, not exactly,” confessed John, somewhat crestfallen. “Unless we make it a secret. I’d like that. But I think it’s a nice surprise, Mumsie, and I _think_ it will save some of Mary’s hundred dollars. Mother,--all the furniture belongs to you, doesn’t it?” “Why, yes, Johnny,” she answered, wondering. “Why do you ask?” “Because,” said John importantly, “I have been snooping around the attic, Mumsie, and I think there are a lot of things you can sell.” “What kind of things do you mean, John?” she asked, looking interested. “Why, you know, Mother,” said John, “there’s a lot of old truck in the corners up there that looks just like the stuff we used to see in the curiosity shops in the city. I didn’t look very far, Mumsie, ’cause it was so--well, so dirty in there. But there’s wheels and andirons and things that I bet are worth lots of money!” “Are there, John?” said Mrs. Corliss. “How clever of you to think of it! I never dreamed of looking in Aunt Nan’s attic to find the way out of our difficulty. Perhaps this is the solution!” “It’s Caliban’s idea,” said John, wishing to be fair and not to claim too much credit, but feeling well pleased with himself, just the same. “Let’s go up right away and see what we can find; shall we, John?” said his mother. “I can’t wait!” “All right,” agreed John. “But you’d better take a candle, Mumsie. It’s terribly dark and spooky up there. And noises sound louder in the dark.” Back to the garret they went, Mrs. Corliss as eager as John. And into those dark corners which had been undisturbed for many, many years they shed the light of their blinking, inquisitive candle. Mrs. Corliss was more thorough than John had cared to be. She untied strings, and lifted lids of trunks, and unwrapped coverings. Out of chests and bundles and crates they dragged things that had been waiting through generations of Aunt Nan’s ancestors for some one to make them useful; things that had been discarded or pushed back still farther in order to make room for her whims and “jokes.” [Illustration: THINGS THAT HAD BEEN WAITING THROUGH GENERATIONS OF AUNT NAN’S ANCESTORS FOR SOME ONE TO MAKE THEM USEFUL] Besides the old spinning-wheel, andirons, and warming-pan, they found parts of a four-post bedstead, a tall clock, and many quaint chairs. They unearthed a hair trunk, foot-warmers, mirrors, crockery, and lamps with prisms dangling; shawls and bonnets and carpet-bags. All of these things were old and most of them were ugly. But Mrs. Corliss knew that they would look beautiful to many persons, just because they were old; which seemed to John a strange reason.