He took the ring from her hand and looked at it with a shadowy smile. Then, before she knew what he was about, he[Pg 146] threw it out of the open window into the street.
She came to the window and looked down, but she couldn’t see it in the street far below.
“Oh, why did you do that?” she cried. “Why, didn’t—”
A sob rose in her throat. She turned away her head, so that he should not see her tears.
“Don’t cry!” he said. “It’s all my fault. I should have known better, of course. I say, Pem! Please don’t cry! The whole thing isn’t worth it. Just—let’s say good-by, Pem!”
She held out both her hands. After a brief hesitation, he took them in his.
“I’ll never forgive myself!” she said unsteadily. “Never!”
“Nothing to forgive,” he assured her, with a gallant attempt at a smile. “I—anyhow, I’m glad I ever saw you. Good-by, Pem!”
If it could only have ended then! If he could have gone then, with that moment for them to remember! But it was their great misfortune that no such memory should be left to them.
The doorbell rang, and Nickie came out of her room.