But I confessed to feeling no offense, and Loa, her resentment quickly dissipated, advanced toward me with a smile.
"See, dear, what I have for you," she announced, taking a little gleaming object from her handbag. "It's all yours! Your wedding ring!"
"My wedding ring?" I ejaculated, feeling ready to sink through the floor.
"Of course," she declared. "Don't you know it's the custom for the lady to give the gentleman a ring?"
"Now, Loa, how could you expect him to know?" demanded Tan Trum reprovingly. "After all, he was born a barbarian, and still isn't familiar with civilized ways."
"Yes, I had forgotten," admitted Loa, apologetically. "Here, dear, is the ring!" And while I sank down in consternation, wishing to fight off the gift but not knowing how to refuse, she slipped a little ruby-studded silver band onto the small finger of my left hand.
"There, dear!" she went on rapturously. "Isn't it beautiful? It's ruby, the color of your heart's blood!"
I mumbled something, expressive neither of thanks nor of appreciation, but apparently my hearers did not quite catch my words. As I snatched at the ring, with the idea of removing it, I was diverted from my purpose by feeling Loa's arms about my neck, and for a moment we were locked in an embrace more satisfying, I hope, to her than to me.
It was Professor Tan Trum who, at this point, unwittingly saved the day.