my dear. Suppose we go and look at it together. I
saw myself some exquisite Greek compositions in the Rue de la Paix,
which both myself and Carrie admired immensely."

"Greek fiddlesticks! I want no Greek, nor any other old-fashioned
ornaments, Mr. Cockayne. One would think you were married to the oldest
female inhabitant, by the way you talk; or that I had stepped out of the
Middle Ages; or that I and Sphinx were twins. But you must be so very
clever, with your elevation of the working-classes, and those prize
Robinson Crusoes you gave to the Ragged-school children--which you know
you got trade price."

"Well, well," poor Cockayne feebly expostulated, "if it's not far, let
us go and see the brooch."

"There, mamma!" cried both Sophonisba and Theodosia in one breath.
"Mind, the one with the three diamonds."

[Illustration: MUSEE DU LUXEMBOURG.]

Mrs. Cockayne being of an exceedingly yielding temperament, allowed
herself to be mollified, and sailed out of the hotel, with the blue
veil hanging from her hat down her back, observing by the way that she
should like to box those impudent Frenchmen's ears who were lounging
about the doorway, and who, she was sure, were looking at her. Mr.
Cockayne was unfortunate enough to opine that his wife was mistaken, and
that the Frenchmen in question were not even looking in her direction.

"Of course not, Mr. Cockayne," said the lady; "who would look at me, at
my time of life?"

"Nonsense! I didn't mean that," said Mr. Cockayne, now a little gruffly,
for there was a limit even to _his_ patience.

"It is difficult to tell what you mean. I don't think you know yourself,
half your time."

Thus agreeably beguiling the way, the pair walked to the shop in the Rue
de la Paix, where the lady had seen a brooch entirely to her mind. It
was the large enamel rose-leaf, with three charming dew-drops in the
shape of brilliants.

"They speak English, I hope," said Mr. Cockayne. "We ought to have
brought Sophonisba with us."

"Sophonisba! much use _her_ French is in this place. She says their
French and the French she learnt at school are two perfectly different
things. So you may make up your mind that all those extras for languages
you paid for the children were so much money thrown away."

"That's a consoling reflection, now the money's gone," quoth Mr.
Cockayne.

They then entered the shop. A very dignified gentleman, with exquisitely
arranged beard and moustache, and dressed unex