think I ought to have the watch, as I said, sir, and Elsie the
locket."

"Well, perhaps that is the most suitable division," said the rector,
coldly; "but I don't think you are quite consistent in claiming the
watch so eagerly, and at the same time scorning the miniature, since,
in all probability, if the watch belonged to your mother, the likeness
is that of your father."

"As such I at least shall be glad to keep it," said Elsie.

Jim was somewhat crestfallen at the rector's rebuke, but merely added,
with some pomposity--

"Now that I have been informed of the circumstances, I shall probably,
by the aid of this watch, be able to unravel the mystery of my
parentage."

He meant it merely as a piece of brag to cover his retreat, and as such
the rector and Hendrick took it, receiving his words with a quiet smile.

"I consider that Mr. Smith has acted very wrongly in keeping these
things from us so long," commenced the young man, as he and Elsie
walked home together after ac early dinner at the rectory.

"O Jim! how can you say so? Mr. Smith could have had no motive but
consideration for our feelings."

"I say nothing against his motives, only that I think he acted wrongly.
Valuable time has been lost; but clergymen are never good men of
business, and Scripture-readers are like them, I suppose."

"Jim, I don't like to hear you speak like that; it's ungrateful. And
what you mean by valuable time I can't conceive."

"I dare say you don't understand the value of time, leading the sort of
life you do in a place where nobody ever knows the hour," said the
youth, superciliously, as he glanced at his newly-acquired treasure;
"but of course I mean time has been lost in investigating our family
history."

"I'm quite content to be as I am," said Elsie. "If the history was
known, it would probably be neither important nor interesting. I don't
see how the watch will help you, Jim; and you know you won't have the
likeness."

And she looked into the lad's face with her merry brown eyes. But Jim
was on his high horse, and merely replied--

"I cannot say what I shall do all at once, but the matter shall be
looked into at an early date."

Elsie smiled, as the rector and Scripture-reader had done--not visibly,
indeed, as they had, yet Jim somehow felt he was being laughed at,
which made him angry.

"He is a smart lad that, but I don't like him," said the rector, as he
and Hendrick watched Elsie and Jim going down th