"Yes," he said, gently taking it from her, "but rather too valuable a
plaything for my little pet. How did she get hold of it, dearest?" he
asked, turning to his wife.
"Mamma say Elsie may. Please, papa, let Elsie have it," pleaded the little
one with quivering lip and fast-filling eyes.
"I gave her leave to look over the contents of my jewel box; she is a very
careful little body, and mammy and I are both on the watch:" answered
mamma. "It is a great treat to her; and she takes up only one article at
a time, examines it till satisfied, then lays it back exactly as she found
it. So please, papa, may she go on?"
"Yes, if mamma gave permission it is all right, darling," he said,
caressing the child and returning the necklace.
"Tank oo, papa, mamma; Elsie be very tareful mamma's pitty sings," she
cried with a gleeful laugh, holding up her rosebud mouth for a kiss, first
to one, then the other.
"Let papa see where you put it, precious," he said, following her as she
tripped across the room and seated herself on a cushion in front of the
box.
"Dere, papa, dus where Elsie dot it," she said, laying it carefully back
in its proper place. "See, so many, many pitty sings in mamma's box."
"Yes," he said, passing his eye thoughtfully from one to another of the
brilliant collection of rings, brooches, chains, bracelets, and necklaces
sparkling with gems--diamonds, rubies, amethysts, pearls, emeralds, and
other precious stones.
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