“Aren’t you going to speak to me?” asked a voice behind him, and Douglas sprang around with an exclamation of delight. Eleanor was seated on a chair by one of the windows, and its high back, which was partly turned to the hall door, had concealed her from view.
“My darling!” Douglas kissed the winsome face rapturously. “Nicodemus told me you had arrived, but that you were upstairs, otherwise I should have come in at once; I begrudge the time I wasted in the hall.”
“I hurried and came down ahead of the others, hoping that you would get here early; I particularly wanted to see you, Douglas.”
“Did you?” in mock surprise. “I’ve been wanting to see you ever since I left you this morning. The time has dragged since then.”
She slipped her hand in his. “It’s just this, Douglas,” her softly modulated voice had a trace of nervousness: “I want to ask you to keep our engagement a secret”—his face fell—“just a few days,” hastily. “I want to get accustomed to it before telling the family”—she blushed divinely. “It’s such a precious secret.”
Douglas took her face between his hands and pressed a passionate kiss on her lips. “Your wish is my law,” he said gravely. “I was disappointed for the moment, because I am anxious to have the whole world know my happiness. I brought you this”—pulling a small square box from his vest pocket and laying it in her outstretched hand.
With a low cry of pleasure she pulled off the wrapping paper and opened the box. The light from the lamp on the table near her chair was reflected back from a superb ruby in a diamond setting. The box slipped from her nervous fingers and rolled on the floor.
“Oh, get it quick, Douglas, I didn’t mean to be so clumsy.”