that she had previously purchased as a parting gift for her old
friend; but Helen checked the girl with a gesture signifying that
her sister was about to speak.

Mis Annie was less prosy than her sister.

"Take this, dear, and God bless you."

Here she handed Mavis her much-prized copy of Sesame and Lilies,
likewise containing the autograph of the great Mr. Ruskin; at the
same time, she presented Mavis with a box of gloves.

Mavis thanked the generous old ladies and gave them the little
presents she had bought for this purpose. To Miss Helen she handed a
quaint old workbox she had picked up in the shop of a dealer in
antiquities; to Miss Annie she gave her A three-quarter-length
photograph in a silver frame.

The two old ladies' hands shook a little when they took these
offerings; they both thanked her, after which Miss Helen rose to
take formal farewell of Mavis.

She spoke the words that she always made use of when taking final
leave of a pupil; usually, they came trippingly to her tongue,
without the least effort of memory; but this morning they halted;
she found herself wondering if her dignity were being compromised in
Mavis's eyes.

"Dear Mavis," she said, "in--in issuing from the doors--er--portals
of Brandenburg College to the new er--er--world that awaits you