our shells!
Madame, I know men who would give their lives to own this, and to have
been born with the right to wear it. It came to your husband in
straight line?"

"Yes," said mother, "but generations back. He never wore it. He never
would. He only saves it for the children."

"It goes to your eldest son?"

"By rights, I suppose it should," said mother. "But father mentioned
it the other night. He said none of his boys had gone as he tried to
influence them, unless Laddie does now in choosing land for his future,
and if he does, his father is inclined to leave it to him, and I agree.
At our death it goes to Laddie I am quite sure."

"Well, I hope--I hope," said Mr. Pryor, "that the young man has the wit
to understand what this would mean to him in England."

"His wit is just about level with his father's," said mother. "He
never has been in England, and most probably he never will be. I don't
think it means a rap more to Laddie than it does to my husband. Laddie
is so busy developing the manhood born in him, he has no time to chase
the rainbow of reflected glory, and no belief in its stability if he
walked in its light. The child of my family to whom that trinket
really means something is Little Sister, here. When Leon came in with
the thief, I thought he should have it; but after all, she is the
staunchest little Crusader I have."

Mr. Pryor looked me over with much interest.

"Yes, yes! No doubt!" he said. "But the male line! This priceless
treasure should descend to one of the male line! To one whose name
will remain Stanton! To Laddie would be best, no doubt! No doubt at
all!"

"We will think about it," said mother serenely as Mr. Pryor arose to go.

He apologized for staying so long, and mother said it hadn't been long,
and asked him the nicest ever to come again. She walked in the
sunlight with him and pointed out the chestnuts. She asked what he
thought of a line of trees to shade the road, and they discussed
whether the pleasure they would give in summer would pay for the
dampness they would hold in winter. They wandered around the yard and
into the garden. She sent me to bring a knife, trowel, and paper, so
when he started for home, he was carrying a load of cuttings, and roots
to plant.

When father came from town that evening, at the first sight of him, she
went straight into his arms, her face beaming; she had been like a sun
all that day. Some of it must have been joy carr