"You are thinking of my mother," put in Maud boldly. "She, indeed, is dead; but I am her child and am called after her."
"Even to the name of Morse?"
"Later," said Hale, with dignity, "I can give you the married name of this young lady's mother. Meanwhile, the cross is----"
"Is here," said Maud, and opening a little bag which was swinging on her wrist, she extracted therefrom a red morocco case and handed it to Jabez.
He opened it gravely and beheld the long-lost ornament. "It was my dear mother's," added Miss Ellis with feigned pathos, as though the sight was too much for her tender heart. "My grandfather gave it to her, and----"
"And your mother gave it to you," ended Jabez, seeing with his usual keen gaze that her eyes were dry behind the handkerchief she was holding to them.
"No," she replied, unexpectedly and sadly. "I never set eyes upon it until Mr. Hale saw me a few days ago."
"Permit me to explain," said Hale, as watchful as a cat. "As I told you, Miss Morse----"
"Still no married name," muttered the solicitor ironically.
"That will be told later," remarked Hale, provokingly self-possessed. "I have first to tell my story."