“Young and happy. You must let me congratulate you.”
“For what?”
“I see you wear Severance’s ring. Ah, Sev, did the ring suit your sister?”
“To a T. Said it was her favourite stone.” He stopped abruptly. “What the deuce—” below his breath; and Jessica whispered hurriedly:—
“Edith was looking at it when Mr. Trent came in, and forgot to return it.”
“Ah! Boswell, I am sure you are sitting on Mrs. Pendleton’s foot. By the way, how is your aunt?”
“Dead—better.”
“I wonder you could tear yourself away so soon,” said Trent, viciously. “You’d better be careful. She might make a new will.”
“Don’t worry. I spent the happiest fifteen minutes of my life with her this afternoon. She promised me all.” He turned to Severance. “You have been breaking hearts on the beach, I suppose.”
“Which is better, at all events, than breaking one’s head against a stone wall.”