'Not even then.'
'You will spoil these beautiful stones.'
'It shall never be seen on another hand while I live.'
'Indeed,' sneered Miss De Jobbyns; 'and thereby hangs a tale, I suppose. Upon my Sam you are very romantic! Of course you got it from the fellow whose photo you wear, but will let no one see?'
Alison made no reply, but her colour came and went with annoyance at the girl's brusquerie; and the latter began to chant the praises of her admirer, a subject of which her listener was utterly weary.
'He has we don't know how many thousands a year—think of that; oh my! Talking of love, I heard him say laughingly to mamma, who was chaffing him on the subject, that he would not be in love with anyone again.'
'And what of that?'
'He meant, of course, with anyone again but me.'
'How do you construe his remark thus?'
'Because his eyes met mine as he said so; and I do hope I blushed—I am sure I did.'