But his quick scrutiny soon discovered them, and he turned and said, with an emphasis that did her good, "I value this more than the check."
"What folly!" she said, blushing with pleasure; "it isn't worth five dollars."
"I can prove that it is worth more than the check," he said, in a low tone.
"How?"
"We value that gift most which we receive from the friend we value most. There; it is proved in a sentence; but I can prove it over again."
"What delightful lessons in logic! But you surely cannot prove it again."
"Yes. If the gift from the friend we value most contains evidence that thought and time have been expended upon it, that gift, however slight its market value, has a worth to us beyond price, because showing that the friend we love supremely thinks of us in our absence."
"I did put a great deal of time and thought in that little gift, but you have repaid me," Lottie answered.
Their brief but significant tete-a-tete was now interrupted by De Forrest, who came forward to thank Lottie for her costly gift to him,—a gift bought on Broadway. He had uneasily marked the fact that she had given something to Hemstead, but when he saw that it was only a sermon-cover, he was quite relieved.
"Come here, Frank, and show me your present," said Mr. Dimmerly, a little later.