CHAP. xvii. THE "AULD BEEN." 369 



matter to be removed from the collection ? " "I am 

 very sorry for that," said Edward. " Then remove it 

 at once, and burn it with the rest." Edward removed 

 it accordingly, but he did not burn it. He took it 

 home, and kept it there until he was able to replace 

 it in the museum. 



THE "AULD BEEN." 



When the curator next entered the apartment, 

 he glanced at the place where the bone had been, and 

 seeing that it had been removed, he said nothing 

 further about it. Shortly after, Edward was himself 

 appointed curator, and having the control of the 

 collection in his own hands, he restored the bone to 

 its former place. He was still most anxious to know 

 of what animal the bone had constituted a part. He 

 never failed to direct the attention of visitors to 

 the bone, and to inquire of them whether they could 

 give him any information about it. Thus time rolled 

 on, and despite of all his endeavours, the bone still 

 remained unknown and unnamed. 

 2B 



