Maria was a young pretty girl who was born into an ordinary family.Her father had no money so she was married to a clerk.
One evening her husband came home with a large envelope in his hand. He said,"There is something for you".She tore the paper quickly and drew out an invitation to a dinner party two days later.
Instead of being happy,she threw the invitation on the table. She murmured,"I am not coming with you".
"Why,my dear, I thought you would be glad. You never go out and this is a fine occasion for you,"said her father.She looked at the him with anger and said"And what do you wish me to wear?I don't have a good dress to wear".
"Come,let us see . I'll buy a new dress for you,"said the husband."How can i go to the party when i don't have a single piece of jewellery?"complained Maria.
"You may wear natural flowers,"replied her husband gently.
"No,i shall look poor among rich women without ornaments,"said Maria.
"How stupid you are!"her husband cried,"Go to your friend Mrs Albert and ask her to lend you some ornaments".
The next day,Maria went to her friend and asked her to lend her one of her ornaments.
She chose a necklace,studded with precious stones that looked like diamonds.
The night of the party arrived.Maria looked prettier than any other woman present there. All the men looked at her.She looked elegant and graceful.
It was 11:30pm when the dinner was over. Then maria returned home with her husband.
As soon as Maria reached home,she stood before the mirror so as to see herself once more in all her glory.But suddenly she uttered a cry when she found that she no longer had the necklace round her neck. Both of them searched for the necklace in and out of the house but failed to find it.
Maria and her husband decided to buy a new necklace of the same kind and return it to Mrs Albert. Maria's husband went from one jeweler to another. At last, he found one which looked like the original necklace. But how unlucky they were!They didn't have so much of money,so they borrowed some money from their friends and bought the necklace. Maria took the necklace to Mrs Albert returned it. She didn't tell anything to her.
Maria and her husband were now in debt. They sold their old house and had a small house at low rent. Her husband had to work in the evenings.At the end of ten years they paid everything.
One day Mrs Albert saw Maria who was was looking much older than her age.
"Good day, Maria, exclaimed Mrs Albert,"why are you looking so old ans weak?"Maria replied,"I have had a very hard life since i last saw you.I had lived in great poverty and that is because of you!"
"Because of me!How is it so?" asked Mrs Albert.
"Do you remember that diamond necklace you lent me to wear to the party? Unfortunately, it was lost",said Maria.
"Is that so?"asked Mrs Albert.
"I bought you back another necklace exactly like yours.And it has taken us taken ten years to pay for it,"muttered Maria.
Mrs Albert stopped her and said,"Do you mean to say that you bought a real diamond necklace to replace my necklace?"
"Yes,"said Maria.
"Oh my poor friend!My necklace was an imitation. It was worth 500 naira only",said Mrs Albert.
Answer the following questions correctly
•who was maria?
•what did the envelope that was brought by Maria's husband contain?
•Was the necklace that Maria took from Mrs Albert real?