An irreparable despair fell upon him, his face turned pale as a corpse. If she had once wronged him it was now so abundantly made good and healed. He was sincerely grateful to her.
"And then I notice that you have your ring on today," he said dully. "Mind you don't take it off again."
Pause.
"No, now I am sure not to take it off any more," she answered.
They looked into each other's eyes. His lips quivered, he indicated the Lieutenant with his head and said hoarsely and rudely:
"You have taste, Miss Victoria. He's a handsome man. His epaulettes give him shoulders."
She gave him his answer very calmly:
"No, he is not handsome. But he is a well-bred man. And that means something."
"That was one for me, thanks!" He laughed aloud and added with insolence: "And there's money in his pockets; that means more."
She left him at once.