It's almost too much--"
"I should think they were precious glad to get you!" Lionel made answer,
as he and his friend took their seats in one of the carriages.
"And I've got a little present for Miss Francie herself," continued
Mangan, opening his bag, and taking therefrom a small packet. He
carefully undid the tissue-paper wrappers, until he could show his
companion what they contained; it was a copy of "Aurora Leigh,"
bound in white vellum, and on the cover were stamped two tiny
violets,-green-stemmed and purple-blossomed.
"'Aurora Leigh,'" said Lionel--not daring, however, to take the dainty
volume in his hands. "That will just suit Miss Savonarola. And what are
the two violets, Maurice--what do they mean?"
"Oh, that was merely a little device of my own," Mangan said, evasively.
"You don't mean to say that these are your handiwork?" Lionel asked,
looking a little closer.
"Ob, no. I merely drew them, and the binder had them stamped in color
for me."
"And what did that cost?"
"I don't know yet."
"And don't care--so long as it's for Francie. And yet you are always
lecturing me on my extravagance!"
"Oh, well, it's Christmas-time," Mangan said; "and I confess I like
Christmas and all its ways.
Pages:
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545