improved; they were jealous of its being known to any that were
not regularly initiated into it; and so they kept it shut up
from the world, and surrounded by mystery, almost as much as if
they had been members of a secret society."
"Well," laughed the Doctor, "three
heads are better than one, and I think, together, we have sifted
out the meaning of the word gaffer pretty thoroughly.
And now for getting at the secrets of this mystic order. Gaffer,
what have you got to show us? Lawrence, what shall we see first?"
"Let's see where the coal goes, since we
have begun with the coal," said Lawrence.
"Then you 'd like to see the cave," said
the gaffer.
II.
A VISIT TO THE CAVE.
Lawrence had no more distinct idea of what a
glass-house cave was, than he had had of a gaffer. But cave
sounded romantic. It suggested the subterranean,-- something deep
and dark and mysterious. So he said, boldly, that he should like
very much to see the cave.
"Come with me," said the gaffer. "We use coal
for various purposes, but the bulk of it goes the way I 'll show you."
They were going towards one of the great towering
chimneys. But, just before reaching it, the gaffer,
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