Maxwell looked curiously at her.
"You speak above your station in life."
"Very probably," replied Mrs. Belk, indifferently. "I have had some education."
This strange dialogue was interrupted by the entrance of the servant, who handed Maxwell fifty pounds in gold and then took his departure. The young man placed the money on the table and motioned to Mrs. Belk.
"Count it, please, and see if it is correct."
Mrs. Belk eagerly advanced towards the table, and dividing the money into tens, counted it rapidly. Having done so, she took a small canvas bag out of her pocket and put the gold into it.
"That is all right, sir," she said, with a sigh of relief, opening the black bag. "You have behaved like a gentleman; I have the money I want, and you have in exchange--this."
"This" was a small diamond pin in the shape of a star, with eight points, and Maxwell took it in his hand with a sensation that he had seen it before.
"Ah!" he said, thoughtfully, turning it over in his hands, "this is the thing I have bought for my fifty pounds."
"Yes, sir."