how much she loved him."

Fanny was about to protest when there came a knock at the door, and
Josephine entered, laden with jewel boxes of all sorts and sizes.

"These are all but the ruby cross, Madame. That is at the jeweller's.
John showed me the receipt for it."

"Yes, I remember," said Virginia hurriedly.

The girl placed the boxes on the table near the other jewels.

"Aren't they beautiful!" exclaimed Fanny enthusiastically. Quickly she
asked: "Which is your favorite?"

"The pearls," replied Virginia quietly.

Going to the table, the elder sister opened some of the boxes and took
the jewels in her hand admiringly.

"They must have cost a fortune!" she went on ecstatically. "This is
the first time I've seen them together. They're simply great!"

Josephine turned to address her mistress.

"Will Madame go out this morning?"

Virginia nodded.

"Probably."

"What furs will Madame wear?"

"None. Bring my cloth coat and the hat that goes with it."

"Oui, Madame."

Fanny was still standing spellbound before the table, feasting her
eyes on the valuable collection of costly gems.

"If these were mine," she went on enthusiastically, "I'd have them out
and count 'em up every day. They'd have no chance to get away from me!
My, but they're stunning! Robert's very good to you, isn't he?"

"Very," replied her sister dryly.

Picking up a diamond solitaire ring and examining it, Fanny asked:

"This was his first present, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember how scared we both were that somebody might break
into the room and steal it and how we used to hide it under the
mattress every night and take it out again when we got up?"

Virginia nodded. With averted face she said:

"Yes--I remember."

"And the morning we were in a hurry and forgot it till we were on the
car! I can see you now, reaching for the bell and then getting off the
wrong way. And how you did run! If you had gone in the ladies' race at
the Shipping Clerks' Annual Picnic and had run as fast as that, you'd
have won the genuine tortoise-shell side combs sure!"

Virginia smiled in spite of herself. Quietly she replied:

"I suppose I was excited. It was the first piece of real jewelry I had
ever owned."

"And now see what you've got!"

Virginia remained silent and her sister opened another box. Taking out
a superb necklace of pearls, she held it up admiringly.

"This was his wedding present! I remember you tried it on at least
fif