She turned suddenly and vanished from his presence, before he could tell
her he would rather take them in the little box.

"How sensitive the poor child is!" he murmured, with a tender smile; "she
could not even bear to see me count out the money."

Mrs. Bently soon returned with a handsome morocco case in her hands.

"They look better in this," she remarked, as she lifted the lid, and
revealed the crescents lying upon a rich black velvet bed; "and," with a
nervous little laugh, "now that I know they are genuine, I really am very
loath to part with them, in spite of my necessity."

She closed the case with a snap, and passed it to him, and he slipped a
roll of crisp bank-bills into her hand.

"This arrangement will smooth all difficulties, I trust," he said, "and
now," with a slight tremor in his voice, "I have a special favor to ask.
May I come to see you at No. 10 ---- street?"

"Certainly, you may, Mr. Cutler," she replied, lifting a bright, eager
face to him, "and I assure you I shall have a warmer welcome for no one
else. I cannot tell you how grateful I am--"

"Do not speak of that," he interposed. "I am amply repaid for anything I
have done by seeing the look of trouble gone from your face. I must bid
you good morning now, but I shall give myself the pleasure of calling
upon you very soon."

He held out his hand to her, and she laid hers within it. He was