"So you're back," she said.
"Yes, my dear, home again. As the poet says, 'There is no place like
home.'"
"I should hope there wasn't," said Mrs. Montgomery, looking about her
disdainfully. "A very delightful home it makes with such a charming
prospect of the back yard. I've been moping here all day."
"You've found something to console you, I see," said her husband,
glancing at the table, on which might be seen a bottle of brandy,
half-emptied, and a glass.
"Yes," said Mrs. Montgomery; "I felt so bad I had to send out for
something. It took every cent I had. And, by the way, Mrs. Flagg sent in
her bill, this morning, for the last two weeks' board; she said she must
have it."
"My dear," said Mr. Montgomery, "she shall have it."
"You don't mean to say you've got the money, Tony!" exclaimed his wife,
in surprise.
"No, I haven't got the money; but I've got what's just as good."
"What have you got?"
"What do you say to this?" and Mr. Montgomery drew from his pocket the
diamond ring, whose loss was so deeply felt by our hero.
"Is that genuine?" asked the lady.
"It's the real thing."
"What a beauty! Where did you get it?"
"It was kindly presented me by a young man of the tender age of fifteen
or thereabouts, who had no further use for it."
"You did him out of it, that is. Tell me how you did it."
Mr.
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