The children's friend: Translated from the French of M. Berquin; complete in four volumes. Ornamented with frontispieces. [pt.2]
Berquin, M. (Arnaud), 1747-1791.
SCENE I.
Eustace, Serina.
Eustace,
(running into the room overjoyed.)

Sister! Sister!

Serina.

What is the matter? You seem to be in high spirits. Is Diana found?

Eustace.

Diana? Oh! something much better. See,

(shewing a ring in a small case.)
look at what I have found not a yard from our door.

Serina.

Oh! the charming ring! But the stone that should be in the middle, where is that?

Eustace.

I suppose it had fallen out. See here it is in a paper. Look at this diamond in the light. See how it sparkles! My papa's brilliant is not so large.

Serina.

I pity him very much that has lost it.

Eustace.

It is worse than to lose a greyhound.

Serina.

Oh! I don't know that. My little Diana was so pretty, and so fond of us. And then we had her a whelp. Oh! when I think how happy we were to see her learn new tricks as she grew bigger, and to amuse our|selves with her play, the finest ring that ever I could put on my finger would not make me half so happy.

Eustace.

But with this ring you might buy a hundred grey hounds like her.

Serina.

It should not buy mine, for all that. He that lost the ring has others, perhaps, and I had only my poor Diana. I am worse off than he is.

Eustace.

It must belong to a rich man. Poor people have not such toys as this.

Serina.

Yet if it was some unfortunate servant that lost it, in taking it to the jeweller—or if it was the jeweller himself; the diamond being loose would make one suspect so; what a misfortune it would be for the poor people!

Eustace.

You are right. Well, now I am quite out of humour with my prize. We must ask papa's advice about it. Oh! this is lucky! here he comes.