Somehow she heard that Osgood was going to sea. It is probable that Aunt Formica’s feminine malice directed the disclosure to her ears. She staggered Dr. Black a moment after she heard the report by asking if it was true.
“It is,” he answered, with dignity, though inwardly scared.
She asked no other question of him, but snapped her fan together and walked away.
“Lily does not want you to go to sea,” he said, when next he saw Osgood.
Osgood blew a ring of cigar smoke into the air and watched its disappearance.
“If wedding rings would only disappear that way!” said the Doctor.
Osgood blew another. “Include engagement rings,” he said.
“One did vanish,” replied the Doctor, slyly.
“I do not believe so. I swear she wears two this moment.”
He left the Doctor, shut himself in his room, and wrote a long letter to Peter about himself, Lily, and Barclay, and posted it.