Azalea and Iris stood as motionless as statues.
“But which one?” Azalea murmured.
Doris looked again at the message. It was so old and yellow that it was difficult to make out the writing, but unquestionably neither of the twins had been mentioned by name. Her silence communicated this to the others.
“If only we had known—” Iris murmured brokenly. “What a difference it might have made. That fatal night when Father—”
She choked and could not go on.
“It’s the most beautiful ring I ever saw,” Kitty declared.
She restrained her enthusiasm, noting that it seemed to pain the Misses Gates.
“Of course it belongs to you,” Doris said quietly, “even though your names aren’t mentioned.” She extended the ring toward the two ladies.
Iris straightened proudly and Azalea turned coldly away.
“It doesn’t belong to me,” she said tartly.