"I cannot." Her eyes fell upon the rings on her finger--the wedding ring which Gerald had placed there, and the diamond ring which he had given her. With a lover's extravagance he had purchased one of considerable value. Leonard knew the price he had paid for it, one hundred guineas. "These," said Emilia, pathetically, "are my own."
"I lay no claim to them," said Leonard, ungraciously.
"But they are really my own?"
"Consider them so."
She removed the diamond ring from her finger. "Is there any person in the village who will purchase this of me?"
"No one rich enough. I will do so, if you wish."
"I humbly thank you. Give me what you like for it."
"I will give you a thousand francs," said Leonard, with a sudden fit of generosity.
"But I do not want more than it is worth," said Emilia, with a joyful flush. A thousand francs! It meant a safe escape from a place where she was avoided; it meant sufficient to pay for a few weeks' board and lodging.
"We will say it is worth that."