, 1898-10-13
TALE OF A TIARA.

and settling my paper afresh.
"Oh, here is u letter from May We're.
She has Just had a present from her IA
ther-in-law, a diamond tiara, and she
says"-this rather doubtfully-"that it
is quite the best Of the whole lot. She
will wear it first at the duchess recep-
ton. That makes the sixth tiara in the
family, doesn't it?" (Mrs- Mark We're
ia my wife's cousin).
II suppose so-if You say So"
l was frankly more interested for the
moment in the money market column
than in May Vere's latest present.
There followed a longish pause. Her
mione t6ttled the teaspoons and made
much Of the cat. Then her voice came
to me across the table decorations with
Just . touch of fretfulness:
"Jacki"
"U'm!"
81 should look so nice in q tiara,
Jack"
I tossed the paper on to an armchair.
Although we have been married three
years that particular infection in my
wife's tones never fails to arouse my
curiosity. and-well, something else.
"If I were only rich enough 1 be-
gan recklessly. You see, knew I wasn't.
"Oh, Jack, l didn't mean that. l am
not y mean as to reproach you. We
have really everything that is necessary.
A tiara ran be done without. l couldn't
bear 10 have anything but q very expen-
sive one, and May won't look anything
but plain in hers, however beautiful it
is. But still-well, what I meant was
that it seems almost . misfortune that
I should look 90 nice In one-as having
mi 10 out Of the question"
II don't see that" I said. II would
rather have you as You are"
May 10 generally acknowledged as
plain
II wasn't comparing you with her.
It would be absurd"
"Would it?' smiled Hermione. And
I am not yet proof against Hermione's
smiles. So in sport I suggested some
thing to her which had occurred to me
just a. . joke, and nothing more. That
she would act on 1t I never dreamed of
for . moment. Yet Hermione still de-
clares all that followed was entirely my
fault, and that but for me she would
mot have to suffer the prolonged igno-
miny Of being the only girl ont of seven
married cousins unable to boast a dia-
mond tiara among her possessions.
We had several engagements the
week Of the duchess reception. but that
vas the first and was very generally
considered the most important. l also
happened to be very busy just then. l
rather expected . bad quarter of an
hour when I told Hermione how abso-
luteiy impossible It would be for me to
do more than just look In at quite q late
hour, bat, a. 10 often the case where
she is concerned. my antioipations were
not fulfilled.
She smiled at me very sweetly, said
she could find plenty Of people to go
with and that I need not worry ON her
account, and I fancied / detected signs
Of relief In her expression. which may
have been the reason why I made my
way 10 the reception rather earlier than
] originally intended.
The duchess who was giving it had
scattered her invitations broadcast, as
10 within the rights Of . duchess. The
spacious rooms we're extremely crowd
cd. Il was some time before / caught
sight Of my wife. but not long before l
heard Of her, for MrA Jack Voyce-
voyoe ID my name-appeared to be Gre
ating quite an unusual sensation even
for her. ''And have you seen pretty Mrs.
voycei" "And have You heard her tale