"Oh, do, Miss Verney, do! Guy would so appreciate it," Pauline declared.
The old maid went to her bureau and from a small locked drawer took out a leather case which she handed to Guy.
"The spring is broken. It opens very easily," she said in a gentle voice.
Pauline forgot her shyness of Guy and leant over his shoulder, while he looked at the picture of a young man rosy with that too blooming youth which miniatures always portray.
"We were engaged to be married," said Miss Verney. "But circumstances alter cases; and we were never married."
Pauline looked down at Guy with tears in her eyes and felt miserable to be so happy when poor Miss Verney had been so sad.
"Thank you very much for showing me that," said Guy.
Soon it was time to say good-bye to Miss Verney and, having made many promises to come quickly again, they left her and went down the steep High Street, where in many of the windows of the houses there were hyacinths and on the old walls plum-trees in bloom.
"Pauline," said Guy. "Let's go for a walk to-morrow morning and see if the gorse is in bloom on Wychford down. There are so many things I want to tell you."
"Do you think Mother will let us?"