, where Elise had all her choicest
belongings, and where she now had her array of Christmas gifts.

The room was entirely of glass, and by a careful arrangement of double
panes and concealed heat-pipes, was made comfortable even in the coldest
weather. Flowers and plants were round the sides; birds in gilt cages
sang and twittered; and gilt wicker furniture gave the place a dainty
French effect that was charming. On the tables were strewn Christmas
gifts of all sorts.

"I'm just tying up the last ones," said Elise. "Don't be afraid to look;
yours is safely hidden away. Now, here's what I want to know."

She picked up a gold seal ring, which, however, had no crest or monogram
cut on it,--and a bronze paper cutter.

"They're lovely," said Patty, as she looked at them. "Who catches these?"

"That's just what I don't know. I bought the ring for Roger and the paper
cutter for Kenneth Harper; he's coming to-night. But I'd like to change
them about and give the ring to Ken, and the paper knife to Roger. Would
you?"

"No, I wouldn't," said Patty, bluntly. "Why do you want to do such a
thing?"

"The ring is much the handsomer gift," said Elise, who had turned a
trifle pink.

"Of course it is," said Patty, "and that's why you should give it to your
brother. It's too personal a gift to give to a boy friend."

"That's what I was afraid of," said Elise, with a little sigh. "But Roger
won't care for it at all, and Kenneth would like it heaps."

"_Because_ you gave it to him?" asked Patty, quickly.

"Oh, I don't know. Yes, perhaps so."

"Nonsense, Elise! You're too young to give rings to young men."

"Ken isn't a young man, he's only a boy."

"Well, he's over twenty-one; and anyway, I know it wouldn't be right for
you to give him a ring. Your mother wouldn't like it at all."

"Oh, she wouldn't care."

"Well, she ought to, and I think she would. Now, don't be silly; give the
ring to Roger, and if you want something grander than this bronze jig for
Ken, get him a book. As handsome a book as you choose; but a book. Or
something that's impersonal. Not a ring or a watch-fob, or anything like
that."

"But he gave you a necklace,--the day we sailed for Paris."

"Fiddle-de-dee! It was only a locket, with the merest thread of a gold
chain; and anyway, I never wore it but once or twice."

"Well, you oughtn't to have accepted it, if a personal gift is so
reprehensible."

"Elise, you're a goose!" said Patty, losing her pa