“Now confess that you never saw a prettier girl,” cried the Princess gleefully.
“I don’t think I ever did,” admitted Jennie, but she was looking at the image of the Princess and not at her own. The Princess laughed, but Miss Baxter seemed too much affected by the unexpected present to join in the merriment. She regarded herself solemnly in the glass for a few moments, then slowly undid the clasp, and, slipping the string of brilliants from her neck, handed them back to the Princess. “You are very, very kind, but I cannot accept so costly a present.”
“Cannot? Why? Have I offended you by anything I have said since you came?”
“Oh, no, no. It isn’t that.”
“What, then? Don’t you like me, after all?”
“Like you? I love you, Princess!” cried the girl impulsively, throwing her arms round the other’s neck.
The Princess tried to laugh as she pressed Jennie closely to her, but there was a tremour of tears in the laughter.
“You must take this little gift as a souvenir of your visit with me. I was really—very unhappy when you came, and now—well, you smoothed away some misunderstandings—I’m more than grateful. And it isn’t natural for a woman to refuse diamonds, Jennie.”
“I know it isn’t; and I won’t quite refuse them. I’ll postpone. It is possible that something I shall do before long may seriously offend you. If it does—then good-bye to the necklace! If it doesn’t, when I have told you all about my misdeed—I shall confess courageously—you will give me the diamonds.”
“Dear me, Jennie, what terrible crime are you about to commit? Why not tell me now? You have no idea how you have aroused my curiosity.”