"Open it, and let us see the kind gift Mrs. Carrington and her daughter have made," said his mother.
There was a catch on one side of the small box. Ralph pressed upon this, and up flew the lid, revealing to his astonished and pleased gaze a small but neatly engraved gold watch, with chain and charm attached.
"A gold watch!" cried Ralph.
"And chain and all!" added Mrs. Nelson.
"Really, I—I can't accept this!" and Ralph blushed furiously. "I—I——"
"Oh, yes, you can," laughed Julia Carrington. "It is not as much as we think you ought to have, but——"
"It is more, Miss Carrington."
"Do you like it, Ralph?" questioned the older lady.
"Very much indeed. I have always wanted a good watch. I have been using father's old one, but that is about worn out, and can't be made to run with much regularity."