orted by her hands, and bent
over some object which she contemplated with intense interest. At the
sound of Bertha's voice she hastily closed the lids of a couple of
ancient-looking caskets, which stood before her, and rose from her seat.

"Is it you, Bertha? How soon you have returned!"

"Yes; I was glad to get away. The ball was wretchedly stupid; and, after
that disagreeable Lady Vivian irritated me by talking of you, I could
not stay. She seemed to have the audacity to expect that you would
become her humble companion. _You!_ our noble, _doubly noble_ Madeleine,
the humble companion of any one, but especially of such a coarse person
as Lady Vivian! It was unendurable."

"It is very possible that Count Damoreau assured her I would accept the
proposition she made me through him," was Madeleine's calm reply.

"But you never could have entertained it for a moment?"

"No. There is the answer I have just written to Count Damoreau. You may
read it."

Bertha glanced over the letter approvingly. As she laid it upon the
table, she noticed the caskets.

"What are these, Madeleine?--jewel-cases?"

"They were my mother's diamonds. They have been in the family, I can
hardly tell you for how many generations."

"Do let me see them."

Bertha opened one of the cases. A necklace, brooch, and ear-rings of
brilliants sparkled within. The precious stones emitted a clear lustre
which would have caused a connoisseur at once to pronounce them of the
first water; but their setting was quaint and old-fashioned. The
necklace was composed of diamonds _fleur-de-lis_, divided by emerald
shamrock-leaves. A single _fleur-de-lis_, surrounded by the emerald
shamrock, formed the brooch and ear-rings.

"Some of your ancestors must have come from the emerald isle: so, at
least, we may infer from this shamrock."

"Yes, my great-great-great-grandfather married the beautiful Lady
Katrine Nugent, and these were her bridal jewels. You see that the
shamrock of Erin is mingled with the _fleur-de-lis_ of France."

Bertha unclosed the other case. It held a bracelet and a tiara-shaped
comb. The shamrock and lily were blended as in the necklace.

"These diamonds are very lustrous," said Bertha, clasping the bracelet
admiringly upon her delicate wrist. "But what are you doing with them,
and at this time of night?"

"Looking at them," answered Madeleine, with some hesitation. "I have not
seen them before for years."

"You shall wear them for you