of which he handed his mother, retaining the other
in his hand.

Opening it, Mrs. Varrick found that it contained a magnificent diamond
bracelet.

"That is to match, as near as possible, the beautiful bracelet you
already have, mother," he said, carelessly.

She reeled back as though he had struck her a sudden blow, and looked at
him with terror in her eyes.

"What is there in that other little velvet case?" she asked, as he made
no move to hand it to her.

"It is not for you, mother," he responded. "It is for Jessie."

He pressed the little spring and the lid of the purple velvet box flew
back, and there, lying on its shimmering satin bed, she beheld a
beautiful little turquois ring set with tiny diamonds.

"Jessie has never had a ring in all her life," he declared, "and it will
please me to be the one to present her with the first one that will ever
grace her little hand. Girl-like, she is fond of such trinkets. The
sparkle of the tiny diamonds will delight her as nothing else has done
in her whole life."

A discordant laugh broke from Mrs. Varrick's lips.

"Ay, the glitter of diamonds pleases her. How well you know the girl!"
she cried shrilly. "But for glittering diamonds she might have lived a
happy enough life of it. Will people ever learn the lesson that they can
not pick up girls from the depths of poverty and obscurity and
transplant then into elegant surroundings and expect good to come of
it?"

"This present is very inexpensive," declared Hubert. "Won't you please
ring for Jessie to come to us? I am anxious to see if it is the right
size. It will be fun to see her big blue eyes open and hear her exclaim
in dismay: 'Oh, Mr. Varrick, is it really for me?' Girls at her age are
enthusiastic, and their joy is genuine upon receiving any little token
of esteem."

Again Mrs. Varrick laughed that harsh, discordant laugh.

"The ring is very pretty, Hubert," she said ironically, "but Jessie Bain
would never thank you for so inexpensive a gift. That diamond bracelet
is much more to her fancy."

"Girls of her age might fancy diamond bracelets, but they would never
care to possess them, because they could not wear them, as they would be
entirely out of place."

For the third time that harsh, shrill laugh from Mrs. Varrick's lips
filled the room.

"I repeat, this bracelet would be more to her fancy," she added, grimly.

"If you will not ring for Jessie, I will do it myself," said Hubert,
good-humoredl