That evening they sat in the hold. Amanda was teaching Meg to sew. Jemmy was rubbing the Lion's head with a piece of cloth."The men put finger marks on it," he said
"What men?" asked Amanda.
"Master Waters and Master Carter" answered Jemmy. "Master Hopkins, too."
John Rolfe came across the hold.
Amanda asked him."How is Mistress Rolfe?"
"Better, thank you.Amanda," he said,"I must speak to you."
He knelt beside her. He spoke in a low voice, "This lion's head that your brother has_ what is it?"
" It's a door knocker."
"Where did you get it?"
"From our father."
"Then it wasn't Dr. Crider's?"
"No, sir."
"What is it made of?"
"Father said it was brass."said Amanda
"Do you know what people are saying about it? They are saying it is brass on the outside and gold underneath"
She looked at the lion's head in Jemmy's hands."How could that be?"
"They say Dr. Crider had his gold melted down and made into a door knocker."
"Why?"
"So he could take it to the Now World in secret," said John Rolfe.
"But_ that's foolish," she said.
"Speak low," he said. "Someone might be listening."
"It's only a brass door knocker," she replied."It used to be on our house in London. How could people think it might be gold?"
"Someone might have told them."
"Who?"
John Rolfe looked at Jemmy.
"Oh ," she said.
"And if people believe the knocker is gold, they can make trouble."
" It's only brass."
"But if they think it's gold, they might try to take it from you."
He left her. She whispered to Jemmy,"Put it away."
"What?"
"The knocker. Put it away."
"Why?"
"Do as I say!"
"Crosspatch" he said. But he put the knocker into his pocket
In the morning she took it from him. When no one was looking, she hid it in one of their sea chests. They went up on deck.
"I want the knocker," he said.
She asked him,"Did you tell Anne and David it was gold?"
He looked down.
"Did you?"
" Ye_Yes ."
"Why?"
"They thought their ball was so good. I said my lion's head was better because it was gold."
"And now people think it is gold.Don't you see? They will try to take it away from you."
Robert Waters came up to them. "Could I see the door knocker?" he asked.
" I put it away," said Amanda.
" You'd better have someone take care of it for you," he said." I'll keep it safe if you like."
"It's only brass," she said.
He looked at Jemmy, then at her. She was not sure her believed her.