She undid the grimy paper, opened the box and gazed in childish delight at the gorgeous diamond in its platinum setting.
“I knew you’d like it,” he chuckled, “Han’somest ring in New York. From the best store there, too. See the name on the box-cover. How’s that for an engagement ring?”
“It’s beautiful! Beautiful!” she murmured.
She slipped it on her third finger, whence it hung heavy and ridiculously loose.
“Maybe it’s a little too large,” he confessed, “But we’ll have that fixed easily enough. I didn’t want to ask your size beforehand for fear you might suspect somethin’. So I had to guess at it.”
She praised the diamond’s beauties until even Conover was content. Then she lay back among the pillows and fought movelessly for endurance. Her waning strength, keyed up to its highest pitch for Caleb’s sake, was deserting her. To hide her weakness she began playing with the ring; slipping it from finger to finger until at length the circlet hung loose from her thumb. Caleb watched her slender hand toying with the gift.
“It’ll be a mighty short time, now,” said he, “before we fit on a plain gold ring above that! Hey?”
At his words the girl, to his dismay, broke into a passion of tears.
“There! There!” he consoled, passing his arms about the frail tormented body, “Why, what is it, sweetheart? Too much excitement after your accident? I ought to a’ had better sense than to keep you talkin’ like this. Try an’ get some sleep. An’ when you wake up you’ll feel better. Lots better. Don’t cry! It breaks me all up to have you do it. Don’t, precious!”
“I—I love you so,” panted the girl, “There’s just you in all the world, Caleb! You’ll stay close by me always, won’t you? Just as long as I live?”