tears.

The curate felt very uncomfortable indeed, and said again that he quite
understood, and that it was quite natural. The dean and the barrister
both said what they ought. The dean remarked that these dear parents
ought not to sorrow at losing a daughter, but rejoice at finding a son.
The barrister pointed out that as the bride was only expected to move
into the next house but one after her marriage, all talk of parting was
really quite absurd. The vicar did not say anything; he rarely did when
his wife was present. Then Mrs. Moore became more composed, and put a
ring on her daughter's finger. The curate did not see the ring at the
moment. He was leaning against the mantel-shelf, feeling very much
overcome by the responsibility of his new happiness.

'Oh, mamma, how lovely!' cried Violetta. 'How perfectly beautiful!'

'A star-amethyst!' said the barrister in a tone of surprise.

'Is it a star-amethyst indeed?' said the dean, looking over the
shoulders of the group with his double eye-glass. 'I am not aware that I
ever saw one before; they are a very rare and beautiful sort of gem.'

'Where did you get it, sister Matilda?' asked the maiden aunt.

Now, although Mrs. Moore was in a most gracious humour, she never liked
being asked questions at any time. 'I am surprised that you should ask
me that, Eliza. I have had it for many years.'

'But you must have got it somewhere at the beginning of the years,'
persisted Eliza, who was of a more lively disposition.

Mrs. Moore gave her a severe glance for the frivolous tone of her
answer. 'I was just about to explain that this stone has been lying for
years among the jewellery which poor uncle Ford bequeathed to me. I
thought it a pity that such a beautiful stone should lie unnoticed any
longer.'

'Oh, a great pity!' they all cried.

'I should not have supposed that poor dear uncle Ford possessed such a
rare thing,' said the wife of the dean.

'It is very curious you never mentioned it before,' said Eliza.

But Eliza was not in favour.

'Not at all,' said Mrs. Moore; 'I take very little interest in such
things. Life is too short to allow our attention to be diverted from
serious things by mere ornaments.'

'That is very true,' said the dean.

Violetta broke through the little circle to show her lover the ring.
'Look,' she said, holding up her pretty hand. 'Isn't it lovely? Isn't
mamma very kind?'

The curate turned his eyes from the fire with an effort. He h