"Well, Irene, what is your decision about the party at Mrs. Churchill's
to-night?"

"I will go with you, father, if it is a matter of so much interest to you,
though, as I told you yesterday, I should prefer declining the invitation
as far as I am concerned."

"It is full time for you to go into society again. You have moped at home
long enough."

"'Moped' is scarcely the right word, father."

"It matters little what you call it, the fact is the same. You have shut
yourself in till you have grown to look like a totally different woman.
Indeed, Irene, I won't permit it any longer; you must come out into the
world once more. I am, sick of your black looks; let me see you in colours
to-night."

"Will not pure white content you, father?"

"No, I am tired of it. Wear something bright."

"I have a favour to ask at your hands, father, will you give me that large
beautiful vacant lot with the old willow tree, on the corner of Pine
Street and Huntingdon Avenue, opposite the court-house?"

"Upon my word! I must say you are very modest in your request! What the
deuce do you want with it?"

"I know that I am asking a good deal, sir; but I want it as a site for an
orphan asylum. Will you give it to me?"

"No! I'll be hanged if I do! Are you going entirely deranged? What business
have you with asylums, I should like to know? Put all of that ridiculous
stuff out of your head. Here is something for which I sent to Europe. Eric
selected it in Paris, and it arrived yesterday. Wear it to-night."

He drew a velvet case from his pocket and laid it before her. Touching the
spring, the lid flew open, and on the blue satin lining lay the blazing
coils of a magnificent diamond necklace and bracelets.

"How beautiful! how splendidly beautiful!"

She bent over the flashing mass in silent admiration for some time,
examining the delicate setting, then looked up at her father.

"What did they cost?"

"Why do you want to know that?"

"I am pardonably curious on the subject."

"Well, then, I was silly enough to give seven thousand dollars for them."

"And what was the value of that lot I asked for?"

"Five thousand dollars."

"Father, these diamonds are the finest I ever saw. They are superbly
beautiful; a queen might be proud of them, and I thank you most earnestly
for such a gorgeous present; but if you will not be offended, I will be
candid with you--I would a thousand times rather have the lot than the
jewels."

The