"That she is sure his mother was a Portuguese half-caste from Chittagong."
"She be blessed!" angrily. "Lisle may have empty pockets, but he has good blood in his veins."
"Mrs. Creery also says she notices——"
"She notices everything! If any one has a button off their glove, she proclaims it on the house-top," rattling his paper irritably.
"I declare, papa!" pausing in the act of rubbing up the ring with her handkerchief, "What do you think is in this ring?"
"A finger, of course," without lifting his head.
"No, you dear, silly old gentleman, but a motto, and I believe I can make it out. Listen to this."
Colonel Denis looked over his paper, now all attention.
"It is rather faint, but," holding it close to her eye, "the first is a big L. Love—me—Love me—and leave—"
"Love me and leave!" cried her father. "A pretty motto, truly! I could do better than that myself!"