the bandbox, and Alison broke off
with an exclamation of diverted interest.

"There! Let's say no more about this tiresome jewel business. I'm sure
this is going to prove ever so much more amusing. Open it, Jane,
please."

In another moment the hat was in her hands and both she and Jane were
giving passably good imitations--modified by their respective
personalities--of Milly's awe-smitten admiration of the thing.

Staff was conscious of a sensation of fatigue. Bending over, he drew the
bandbox to him and began to examine the wrappings and wads of
tissue-paper which it still contained.

"It's a perfect dear!" said Miss Landis in accents of the utmost
sincerity.

"Indeed, mum," chimed Jane, antiphonal.

"Whoever your anonymous friend may be, she has exquisite taste."

"Indeed, mum," chanted the chorus.

"May I try it on, Staff?"

"What?" said the young man absently, absorbed in his search. "Oh, yes;
certainly. Help yourself."

Alison moved across to the long mirror set in the door communicating
with her bedroom. Here she paused, carefully adjusting the hat to her
shapely head.

"Now, sir!" she exclaimed, turning.

Staff sat back in his chair and looked his fill of admiration. The hat
might have been designed expressly for no other purpose than to set off
this woman's imperious loveliness: such was the thought eloquent in his
expression.

Satisfied with his dumb tribute, Alison lifted off the hat and deposited
it upon a table.

"Find anything?" she asked lightly.

"Not a word," said he--"not a sign of a clue."

"What a disappointment!" she sighed. "I'm wild to know.... Suppose,"
said she, posing herself before him,--"suppose the owner never did turn
up after all?"

"_Hum_," said Staff, perturbed by such a prospect.

"What would you do with it?"

"_Hum_," said he a second time, non-committal.

"You couldn't wear it yourself; it's hardly an ornament for a bachelor's
study. What _would_ you do with it?"

"I think," said Staff, "I hear my cue to say: I'd give it to the most
beautiful woman alive, of course."

"Thank you, dear," returned Alison serenely. "Don't forget."

She moved back to her chair, humming a little tune almost inaudibly; and
in passing lightly brushed his forehead with her hand--the ghost of a
caress.

"You may go, Jane," said she, sitting down to face her lover; and when
the maid had shut herself out of the room: "Now, dear, read me our
play," said Alison, composing herself