Ready set to work
with his axe, and broke off the lid, and found a number of pasteboard
boxes full of tapes, narrow ribbons, stay-laces, whalebones, and
cottons on reels.
"This has been sent out for some Botany Bay milliner," said Mr.
Seagrave. "I presume, however, we must confiscate it for the benefit of
Mrs. Seagrave and Miss Caroline. We will take them to them as soon as
we have time."
The next was a box without a lock; the lid was forced up, and they
found a dozen half-gallon square bottles of gin stored in divisions.
"That's Hollands, sir, I know," said Ready; "what shall we do with it?"
"We will not destroy it, Ready, but at the same time we will not use it
but as a medicine," replied Mr. Seagrave; "we have been so long used to
spring-water, that it would be a pity to renew a taste for spirituous
liquors."
"I trust we shall never want to drink a drop of it, sir, either as a
medicine or otherwise. Now for this cask with wooden hoops."
The head was soon out, and discovered a dinner set of painted china
with gold edges.
"This, Mr. Seagrave, may be useful, for we are rather short of plates
and dishes. Common white would have served as well.
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