"'Mr. Clayton,' said I, 'let me advise you to get home as soon as possible, or you will catch your death of cold.'
"'So will you,' he said. 'You must come with me.'
"He insisted, so I went, and was handsomely treated, you may depend. Mr. Clayton gave me a new suit of clothes, and the next morning he took me to Tiffany's—that's the best jeweller in New York—and bought me this diamond ring. He first offered me money, but I felt delicate about taking money for such a service, and told him so. So he bought me this ring."
"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Aunt Deborah.
"That was an adventure. But it seems to me, Ferdinand, I would have taken the money."
"As to that, aunt, I can sell this ring, if ever I get hard up, but I hope I sha'n't be obliged to."
"You certainly behaved very well, Ferdinand. Do you ever see Mr.
Clayton now?"
"Sometimes, but I don't seek his society, for fear he would think I wanted to get something more out of him."
"How much money do you think he'd have given you?" asked Aunt
Deborah, who was of a practical nature.
"A thousand dollars, perhaps more."