"Ho! I honoured him by marrying the best girl in Melchester."
Susan said solemnly:
"You did deceive him, Joe."
"Serve him right, too."
"I say you deceived him."
"Well, for the Lord's sake, don't go on sayin' it, repeatin' yourself like an old poll parrot. Father never did do you justice. He never did know quality. Quantity was what he'd go for. Lordy! how he used to waller in cheap job lots!"
Susan ignored this. With slow pertinacity, working steadily to her point, she continued:
"And I deceived my pore mother. Used to wear my engagement ring at night."
She lifted her hand and looked at it. What a wonderful present it had been reckoned. Three turquoises with small brilliants, paid for out of the savings of a "white nigger"!
Joe stared at the ring. It seemed to shine out of the past. He remembered everything. For instance, he had not haggled about the price demanded—six pounds! He had felt that haggling would be indecent. He said pensively: