t catch the murmured words her companion uttered.

"There are a few little finishing touches to my toilet which I would
like to have you help me with. In that velvet case on the center-table
you will find a necklace of sapphires and diamonds. You may fetch it to
me."

With trembling hands Dorothy clasped the necklace around Miss Staples'
firm white throat.

"They are very beautiful--don't you think so?" she asked, looking at
Dorothy with the old-time burst of enthusiasm which she remembered so
well.

"Yes," returned Dorothy, in a low voice.

"They are Mr. Garner's gift to me. To-day is my birthday," she went on,
"and this is Mr. Garner's gift--beautiful, is it not?"

"Yes," said Dorothy, in the same low, wistful voice.

"He is so considerate of my wishes; I had merely expressed the words
that I admired sapphires and diamonds, and see! he has presented me with
this lovely set!"

"The gentleman must have a very generous heart," said Dorothy, faintly.

Jessie Staples started and looked at her searchingly.

"Do you know that your voice reminds me of the voice of a young girl
whom I once knew and loved dearly?" she said, huskily.

Oh, how those words thrilled every fiber of Dorothy's being!

"She was a very fair young girl," continued Jessie, thoughtfully, "but
she went astray."

The bracelet that Dorothy was holding fell to the floor with a crash.

"Oh, I--I must have broken it!" she sobbed.

"Never mind," said Miss Staples; "you could not help it. Accidents are
liable to happen at any time. It is not past mending, I am sure. Do not
allow it to trouble you."

She quite believed that Mrs. Brown was a trifle awkward--probably a
little nervous, and she did her best to reassure her.

"You must not feel badly about it," she repeated kindly. "I, too, am
nervous sometimes. Why, only to-night I dropped my cup of chocolate,
breaking the cup into bits, my hands were so nervous. I had such a
headache all day, that I did not feel able to go down to the table. Even
now I am by no means free from the terrible pain in my head. We shall
leave the opera early," she went on, adding: "No doubt you are pleased
to hear that."

"It does not matter much to me, madame," came the faint reply.

"The carriage will be here in half an hour. I trust you will be ready,
Mrs. Brown. Please have my wraps in readiness then. One of the maids
will tell you where to find them. You will not have much time to get
your own wraps."

At the