“I’ll wager you’ve been wondering why I didn’t bring you a ring,” he went on exuberantly. “Girls always like rings, and I see you don’t wear anything but that plain one. Here, I’ll——”
“Don’t take it off,” implored Barbara. “It was my mother’s. It was her wedding ring.”
“That’s all right, dear. But you must take it off, just the same. You can wear it on the other hand, if you like—or put it away; a keepsake like that is best locked up in some box. I’ll give you all the rings you’ll need to wear from now on.”
He snapped open a tiny case of white velvet and flashed its imbedded jewel in her averted eyes.
“Do you like it, dear? Do you think it’s pretty? I couldn’t get anything decent in this hole, of course, so I sent to the city for it. It just came by express, last night. I found it when I got back from my delightful ride with that old crab, Jarvis.”
“It—it’s beautiful, David, but——”
“I hope it’ll fit; let me put it on, dearest.”
“David—I—can’t; don’t you see—I am not free to—to——”
“What in Heaven’s name are you talking about? Aren’t we engaged?”
“I—don’t know,” the girl said slowly. “No,—not till fall. You mustn’t——”