`` You ca n't make a fool of the old woman , '' cried she . `` This is your own handwriting , Mr. Peter , the same as in the letter you sent me from Mexico . '' `` There is certainly a considerable resemblance , '' said Peter , again examining the parchment . `` But you know yourself , Tabby , that this closet must have been plastered up before you came to the house or I came into the world . No ; this is old Peter Goldthwaite 's writing . These columns of pounds , shillings and pence are his figures , denoting the amount of the treasure , and this , at the bottom , is doubtless a reference to the place of concealment . But the ink has either faded or peeled off , so that it is absolutely illegible . What a pity ! '' `` Well , this lamp is as good as new . That 's some comfort , '' said Tabitha . `` A lamp ! '' thought Peter . `` That indicates light on my researches . '' For the present Peter felt more inclined to ponder on this discovery than to resume his labors . After Tabitha had gone down stairs he stood poring over the parchment at one of the front windows , which was so obscured with dust that the sun could barely throw an uncertain shadow of the casement across the floor . Peter forced it open and looked out upon the great street of the town , while the sun looked in at his old house . The air , though mild , and even warm , thrilled Peter as with a dash of water . It was the first day of the January thaw . The snow lay deep upon the housetops , but was rapidly dissolving into millions of water-drops , which sparkled downward through the sunshine with the noise of a summer shower beneath the eaves . Along the street the trodden snow was as hard and solid as a pavement of white marble , and had not yet grown moist in the spring-like temperature .
But when Peter thrust forth his head , he saw that the inhabitants , if not the town , were already thawed out by this warm XXXXX , after two or three weeks of winter weather .
Goldthwaite Peter Tabby Tabitha casement day eaves housetops pence water-drops