"You did not meet Archibald?" asks Lady Chetwoode of Guy.
"No: I suppose he will be down by next train. Chesney is always up to time."
"Lilian, my dear, where is my fourth knitting-needle?" asks auntie, mildly. "I lent it to you this morning for some purpose."
"It is up-stairs; you shall have it in one moment," returns Lilian, moving toward the door; and Sir Guy, muttering something about getting rid of the dust of travel, follows her out of the room.
At the foot of the stairs he says:
"Lilian."
"Yes?"
"I have brought you yet another bonbon. Will you accept it?"
As he speaks he holds out to her an open case, in which lies a pretty ring composed of pearls and diamonds.
"For me? Oh, Sir Guy!" says Lilian, flushing with pleasure, "what a lovely present to bring me!" Then her expression changes, and her face falls somewhat. She has lived long enough to know that young men do not, as a rule, go about giving costly rings to young women without a motive. Perhaps she ought to refuse it. Perhaps auntie would think it wrong of her to take it. And if there is really anything between him and Florence—— Yet what a pretty ring it is, and how the diamonds glitter! And what woman can resign diamonds without a struggle?