“Some one must have liked to fool away money pretty well, to give you an elegant trifle like that,” the rude girl said, for she had known that it was valuable at a glance. “It doesn’t correspond with the rest of your wardrobe,” she continued, jeeringly; “you’d better give it to me.”
Star looked up into the bold, handsome face beside her with astonishment.
“I cannot give it to you,” she said, with compressed lips.
“Well, lend it to me, then.”
She was loaded with jewelry, early as it was in the day. She wore a heavy gold chain, from which was suspended a blue enameled locket set with pearls and diamonds; heavy jewels hung in her ears, broad bands of gold clasped her wrists, while her fingers gleamed with numerous costly gems; and here she was coveting the single ornament which she had seen Star wear.
“I do not like to appear disobliging,” she returned, “but there are reasons why I do not even like to lend it.”
“What reasons, pray, can you have for refusing so simple a request?” Josephine persisted.
“I have told you—it is the gift of a friend. I do not like to part with it.”
“I will give you this handsome emerald for it,” said the spoilt beauty, turning a valuable ring upon her finger.
“Thank you. No; I could not make the exchange.”