a made a pleasant picture for a mother's eyes to dwell upon as
she stood there roguishly smiling in her cool white frock and blue sash,
and a coral necklace on her fat neck, whilst her golden hair shone like
a halo round her head.

"Guess, Mother dear," repeated Vera; then, unable to wait, she jumped on
Mrs. Everest's lap, and, opening her little pink hands, she displayed
the stone. "It's your Christmas present!" she declared.

Mrs. Everest kissed the child, but did not, so thought Vera, take enough
notice of her handsome gift.

"It shines, doesn't it, Father?" she said, holding it up for Mr.
Everest's inspection as he passed along the veranda.

Mr. Everest stopped, took the stone in his hand, then, turning deadly
pale, he walked quickly into the house without saying a word. Vera felt
the world was somewhat disappointing to-day; but in a minute or two her
father reappeared, and hastily encircling both wife and child with his
arm, he said gayly, "There, Sophy! kiss your little daughter, and
congratulate her. She has made your fortune, and you can leave for home
to-morrow, and engage a state cabin if you like."

"O Henry! what do you mean?" said the bewildered Mrs. Everest.

"Just what I say!" he declared. "Vera's gift to you is a diamond; and if
I know anything, it will sell in Capetown for a good round sum. So don't
fret any more, little woman, but pack up your traps and take your clever
daughter with you, and we will start for Capetown to-night, so as to
catch the first steamer for home."

Vera could not now think that her present was not enough appreciated,
for Father would not let it out of his hand until he got to the
jeweller's at Capetown, and had sold it for a large sum of money.

Vera and her mother sailed the very next day, and Grandma got better
from the hour of their arrival. As for Mother, she was now always
smiling; for with Grandma well, and no debts to worry her, she felt so
happy that she seemed hardly to know how to be grateful enough.

Certainly there could not have been a more opportune present than Vera's
Christmas Gift.

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TOMMY TORMENT.

We all called him in private "Tommy Torment;" but his mother called him
"My precious darling," and "My sweet, good boy," and spoiled him in a
truly dreadful way. Anyhow, he was not a nice boy, and we never saw more
of him than we could help.

He did not go to school even, for th