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 soft fur edges of her cape collar, revealing as she did so the elaborate velvet appliqué of her waist and the exquisite beauty of an ancient pin that nestled at her throat.

Victoria's eyes rested on it for one breathless second, then her voice spoke strange and sharp as she fairly jerked out the question: "Where did you get that?"

"Goodness!" thought Philippa, quickly, "I can't tell her I accepted such a valuable present from Valdeck—can't even excuse it on old friendship. I'm engaged to Morton, I forgot to tell her—but now isn't the time." An imperceptible pause covered this calculating. "Why, Victoria," she said, gently, "what makes you so savage? It's an old thing of mother's. I found it not long ago among some letters and keepsakes of hers. Pretty, isn't it?"

Philippa's voice was full of sentiment and sorrow. To hear her one felt instinctively the desire to protect this motherless girl, and to pass quickly from a subject that might cause sad recollections. Victoria controlled the strong emotion that shook her. 124