She continued to look at her bracelet until she had satisfied herself fully. Then she let her hand drop. "Will you give me some very beautiful diamonds by-and-by?" she asked, turning her eyes towards him.
"To be quite frank, I don't like them much."
"But if I like them?" She seemed to be curious as to what he would reply.
"You may not like them yourself, then."
She regarded him a moment longer. Then her eyes left him; she looked off down the long aisle. "I shall not change; no, not as you seem to think," she said, musingly. And she stood there for a moment very still. Then her face changed, her light-heartedness came back; she took his arm, and, as they strolled slowly towards the house, talked her gayest nonsense. He listened indulgently.
"Why don't you ask me what I have been doing all these weeks while you have been away?" she said at last, suddenly.
"I suppose I know, don't I? You have written."
"You haven't the least idea. I have been amused—really amused all the time."
"Is that such a novelty? I've always thought you had a capital talent for amusing yourself."
"That's just what I mean; this time I've been amused, I didn't have to do it myself. Oh, promise me you won't stop anything now you've come. We've had some lovely excursions, and I want ever so many more."