"I, for one," commenced the lad, ceasing from his effort to untie the strings, "cannot form the least idea. I presume it is from Mr. Kilby; and he has already so loaded me with favors that I don't like to accept any more."
Mrs. Danforth, to please Ella, guessed that the parcel contained a purse to keep his money in.
Mrs. Haven confessed that she could easily fancy the contents, but would prefer not to state her opinion.
Ella then took the small, neatly tied bundle, turned it over carefully in her hands, looked very mysterious, and then said, earnestly, "I guess it's a napkin-ring. It's just about the size that my box was,—I mean the one that father's present of a napkin-ring came in."
Great was her surprise, therefore, when, having unloosed the white wrapping paper, Harrison disclosed a small green case containing a valuable watch. There it lay on its pure white satin bed, totally unsuspicious of the enthusiasm it was destined to call forth.
The young clerk gave a scream of joy, exclaiming, "Just what I have always longed for!" Ella jumped up and down and clapped her hands. Mrs. Haven smiled complacently: it was what she had fancied; while the happy mother gazed in unaffected surprise.
On the back of the watch, in the small circlet forming the centre, were the initials, L. F. K. to H. D.
The beautiful trinket was then passed around the group, and commented upon according to the different views of each. Mrs. Haven, in her turn, opened to the mechanism, to explain to him the parts and their action. It was a lever, and had thirteen jewels.
Ella then expressed a desire to see how Harrison would look wearing a watch. She had entirely forgotten her fatigue in the joy of the present occasion. He passed the ribbon around his neck, saying, with a laugh, "What should I have done, if I had not begun to wear vests?"
"Such a tall man as you," exclaimed Ella, "would look too funny in jackets. There, it becomes you very well," she added, as she stood in front of him, with her eyes fastened upon the black ribbon.