"If there be a million they bean’t no good wi’ all the sperits gone a-lost," said Sam. "Howsomever, ’twill be summat to do to count ’em, and keep us from the squitchems." They regained the cave. Dick, bending so that the light of the candle shone full into the hole in the wall, began to scrape away with his knife the earth that partially concealed the second barrel. Not to be backward, Sam set to work in the same way a little to the right. The second tub was soon unearthed, then a third. "We must be careful not to disturb the earth above," said Dick, "or we shall have the rest covered up again. I believe there are a good number here." "All leery," said Sam with a sigh. "But I don’t care who the man is, they bean’t leerier nor I.... There’s my tongue runnin’ to vittals again; I reckon ’tis because I hain’t done growin’." After resting a while, they resumed their work. In course of time, they had a row of ten or twelve barrels standing against the wall. "I wish there was something else," said Dick. "What yer manin’ be ’tis not for me to say," said Sam, "but my feelings be just the same. Why, dash my bones, here _be_ summat else; a box, Maister; look at un." He drew forth a long flat box, which he shook as he had shaken the barrels. "Ah! ’tis full o’ nothing, seemingly. If ’twas only tay, now, or bacca that we med chaw; but ’tis a’most as light as a feather." He prised up the lid of the box with his knife. The wood was thin, and crumbled away at the touch of the steel. There was something pink beneath, and the removal of the lid disclosed a quantity of silk, which, when it was unfolded, proved to be many yards in length. "Only think o’t!" said Sam. "Don’t it feel plum! Oh! what a noble garment ’t’ud make for Maidy Susan!" "’Tis much too good for her," said Dick. "It would suit Mother better." "True, ’tis fit for queens and other high females, but the Mistress be gettin’ a old ancient person, and ’t’ud look more fitty on a nesh young frame. Ah me! it bean’t no good for high or low, this side o’ that dark fearsome hole in the ground." "Let us see if there are any more boxes," said Dick. "And let me tell you, Mother is only forty-five, so mind what you say, Sam." "Well, forty-five is more ’n double twenty, can ’ee deny it? When I be forty-five, I shall be a old aged feller with a beard and a shiny sconce like Feyther, and he don’t care a cuss what raiment he do wear."