But she hid her troubled eyes against his shoulder.
“Not on my ugly brown hand, David,” she murmured. “And I cannot wear it—yet. I promised.”
“That’s twice you’ve mentioned the fact that you promised,” he said, scowling. “Did Jarvis have the brazen nerve to come between you and me with any of his cut and dried legal business?”
“He—reminded me of my contract. He said——”
“Well, I’ll fix that up with Jarvis. Say, do you know he makes me tired? I told him we were engaged, and if he had any such line of talk to pass out he might have come to me. I’m the one for him to do business with from now on, and I’ll let him know it, too.”
He released her, suddenly.
“You can do as you like about the ring,” he said in an offended tone. “Most girls would jump at the chance to wear a two-hundred-dollar diamond. I’ll chuck it into the waste-basket, if you say so.”
“Oh, David!” breathed Barbara, “did you spend all that money—just for me?”
“Yes, I did; and I supposed you’d be pleased. I never dreamed you’d refuse to wear it.”
“But—it isn’t that I don’t love you,” she faltered. “Indeed I——”