"Yes, sir. After my folly about that ring you should have known better than to send it to me. You must take it back again."
"You shall do exactly what you said you would. You shall give it to my wife,—when I have one."
"That did very well for me to say in a note. I did not want to send my anger to you over a distance of two or three hundred miles by the postman. But now that we are together you must take it back."
"I will do no such thing," said he sturdily.
"You speak as though this were a matter in which you can have your own way."
"I mean to have mine about that."
"Any lady then must be forced to take any present that a gentleman may send her! Allow me to assure you that the usages of society do not run in that direction. Here is the ring. I knew that you would come over to see—well, to see someone here, and I have kept it ready in my pocket."
"I came over to see you."
"Lord Silverbridge! But we know that in certain employments all things are fair." He looked at her not knowing what were the employments to which she alluded. "At any rate you will oblige me by—by—by not being troublesome, and putting this little trinket into your pocket."
"Never! Nothing on earth shall make me do it."