It was nearly three o'clock when they had finished the meal. The color was stealing faintly back to the girl's lips and cheeks, and the terror fading out of her eyes.
"Now," said Nelson consulting his watch, "it's three minutes to three. What do you want to do? Shall we make good our word and go to the Tomb and the Museum, or shall we save that for another day and go back to the hotel and let you get a good rest?"
"Oh," said Marguerite, shrinking suddenly, the color receding from her lips, the terror coming back to her eyes. "Oh, I can't go back—yet! But don't let me detain you—I'll—I'll just wander around a little—I'll go—shopping!" she ended with an attempt at briskness in her voice. "You've been awfully good."
"Now, look here, Marguerite, haven't I known you too long and loved you too well, for you to get off any bunk like that on me?" he asked laughing. "I'm here to take care of you, and what you want to do is what I want to do. What I meant is, are you too tired to take on sight seeing or are you really interested? It occurred to me that we weren't either of us in a state to get much intellectual good out of either a tomb or a museum, but perhaps I'm mistaken. If you want to, we'll go. But if you are not particular which day we go tombing, suppose we take a lighter expedition. I'll tell you what would just suit me. I'd like to take you down to Tiffany's and buy you the prettiest diamond ring we can find."
Marguerite started back in her chair.
"Oh, Nelson! What do you mean?"
Her face was a curious study of tenderness and fear.
"I mean just that, Daisy. I think it's high time you had some kind of a safeguard to wear. I've loved you too long and known you too well, to let you drift around the world unprotected any longer."
"But—Nelson—"
"Yes, I know—you want to tell me that you don't love me—that you couldn't possibly love one man when you've just got over caring for another, and all that—but I'm going to do this anyway. The chances are that you may some day find out you do care a little and then everything will be all right. But if you don't, why, there are such things as broken engagements.