"Send you what?" she asked, rather sharply, and Bessie, who had
commenced the rubbing process again and was looking at her hands,
replied:
"I want a turquois ring--five stones, with a pearl in the center; real,
too. I don't like shams, neither does papa; but mamma don't care, if she
gets the effect. If you'll never tell as long as you live and breathe,
those solitaires in mamma's ears are nothing but paste, and were bought
in the Palais Royal," and Bessie pursed up her lips so disdainfully that
Miss McPherson burst into a laugh, and stooping down, kissed the little
face as she said:
"That's right, child; never tolerate a sham; better the naked truth
always."
In the distance Daisy, who had passed them ten minutes or so ago, was
seen returning with young Hardy and rising to her feet, Miss Betsey
said:
"I must go now, child; good-by. Try and be good and truthful and real,
and stick to your father, and sometime, maybe, you'll see me again."
Then she walked swiftly away, and Bessie saw her no more, but for days
she talked of the queer old woman on the terrace, who had called her
Betsey and who had bade her be good and truthful and real and stick to
her father.
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