erstood, of course," replied the jeweller; adding to
himself, "as solid as any one makes them."

The ring was manufactured at a reasonable profit, and the man got the
full worth of his money; but not of solid gold. Silver solder composed
the centre. But as the baser metal could not be detected by simple
inspection or weighing, Mr. Grant felt secure in the cheat he had
practised; and, quieted his conscience by assuming that he had given a
full equivalent for the money received.

"He's just as well off as he would have been if he had gone to my
neighbour over the way, as he called him," said he to himself, in the
effort to quiet certain unpleasant sensations. "To suppose that he was
going to get a solid ring at such a price! Does he think we jewellers
steal our gold? Men will be humbugged, and there is no help for it."

Yet, for all this, Mr. Grant could not cast out the unpleasant feeling.
He had done a thing so clearly wrong, that no attempt at
self-justification gave his mind its former calmness.

"The ring is solid gold?" said the man, when he came for it.

"That was the contract," replied Mr. Grant, with a half-offended air,
at the intimation conveyed in the tone of voice, that all might not be
as agreed upon.

"Excuse me," remarked the man, apologetically; "but I am very
particular about this matter, and would throw the ring into the street
rather than use it, if not of solid gold."

"Gold rings are not given away," muttered Grant to himself, as the man
left the shop.

Some days after this transaction, a man named Harrison, who belonged to
the church of which Grant was a member, met him, when this little
conversation took place.

"I sent you a customer last week," said Mr. Harrison.

"Ah! I'm very much obliged to you."

"A gentleman who wanted a gold ring. He asked me to give him the name
of a jeweller upon whom he could depend. The ring, he said, must be
solid, for a particular reason; and, as he was a stranger, he did not
know who was to be trusted. I told him I would guaranty you for an
honest man. That if you undertook to manufacture any article for him,
he might rely upon its being done according to agreement."

While Harrison was uttering this undeserved compliment, it was with the
utmost difficulty that Mr. Grant could keep the tell-tale blood from
rushing to his face.

"He showed me the ring," continued Mr. Harrison. "It is a very handsome
one."

"Was he satisfied with it?" asked Mr. Grant.