The shoes and gloves were satisfactory, and she picked up a small cardboard box. She thought she had ordered nothing that would go into the box, and with some curiosity she broke the seal. Inside was a Russia leather case, and in the case a jewel. Evelyn’s eyes sparkled, but she covered the box with her hand. Mrs. Haigh studied a document, and her look implied that the document was the dressmaker’s bill. Evelyn took a card from the box and knew Ledward’s hand. He stated that her birthday was soon and he hoped she would wear his present at the ball. If he could get there he would claim a dance.
For a few minutes Evelyn was very quiet. Her birthday was not yet, but it looked as if Harry knew she wanted an ornament for her ball dress. He knew her proper color; Harry noted things like that. The trouble was, he would think her wearing his present significant, and she had meant to use Kit’s.
The jewel Kit had given her was small and the setting plain. Harry’s was large, and the goldsmith had used his art to mark its beauty. Evelyn noted the contrast. She ought to wear Kit’s humble gift and send back the other, but she hesitated. Her jewels were few; the splendid stone sparkled, and she would hate to let it go. Then Harry would see all her refusal implied.
Evelyn admitted she did not want him to see. Kit was her lover, but he was at the Canadian bridge works and she must stay at dreary Netherdale. Sometimes Harry banished the dreariness, and although he was not, like Kit, romantic, he was clever and would be rich. He stood for much she wanted: modern cultivation, fashion, and the thrill of the city. If she married Ledward——
She stopped. She did not want to marry Ledward, but she saw where she rather carelessly went, and where Ledward, who was not at all careless, tried to steer her. In the meantime she must wear one of the two presents, and she shrank from choosing. Besides, if she chose Harry’s she could not cheat her mother. Getting up, she carried the box to Mrs. Haigh.
“The note is Harry Ledward’s.”
Mrs. Haigh took the jewel, and when it sparkled under the lamp her mouth got tight. Then she studied the writing on the card and smiled.
“He shows some tact.”
“Harry is tactful,” said Evelyn. “But I don’t see what I ought to do.”
Mrs. Haigh gave her a keen glance. Evelyn’s color was rather high and her hands were not still.