“Traverse, I don’t believe you are half playing,” said Mr. Sherwood, as he removed a captured knight from the board.

“Well, you ’most always beat me, you know, Mr. Sherwood, though not often so badly, I confess,” was the smiling reply.

“Well, don’t be so easily conquered this time, Traverse, or I shall begin to think you have something on your mind.”

Guy laughed and promised better play in the future, and as Dexie was called from the room he redeemed his character and won the next game, and during the few minutes’ chat that followed Guy sought for information concerning Dexie’s supposed engagement.

Mr. Sherwood did not see the drift of his remarks until Guy asked: 

“There is a rumor that Miss Dexie expects to be married shortly.  You will miss her very much if the rumor is correct.”

“Oh! rumor has it that way, has it?  Well, this time Dame Rumor is just a little astray.  Strange how things do get twisted round!”

“Are you quite sure there is no foundation for the rumor, Mr. Sherwood?” and Guy held his chessman poised in the air while he waited the answer.

“Oh, well, there are some facts to start from, certainly; yet I do not see how the news could have got abroad.  I feel quite sure Dexie never told anyone about it, and the matter is not known to anyone else in the house, except myself.  She does not care to have the matter spoken of just at present, lest it be misconstrued.”

“Then where is rumor wrong, if I may ask?”

“Well, Traverse, I promised not to speak of it, but I do not think she will mind if I tell you.”

Mr. Sherwood did not notice how eagerly Guy waited for the next words, for he was studying his next move and seemed to have forgotten what he was about to communicate.

“If Miss Dexie does not wish the matter spoken of, you may rely on my discretion,” Guy remarked, as a reminder.

“To be sure; well, the fact is, she has broken off the engagement, if there was any, between herself and that young Englishman.  I daresay you may have heard us speaking of him, and he is soon to be married to a lady from his own country; that leaves her free, contrary to Dame Rumor.”

“Is it possible!  And Miss Dexie—­”

“Is as happy as a lark; do not extend your sympathy, Traverse, or you will find it much misplaced.”

If Dexie had guessed that the very one she had hoped to keep in ignorance was the first one to be told the facts of the case, she would never have parted with her news, even to her father.

Guy’s heart bounded with hope and joy as he heard it, yet his happiness was still overshadowed by the thought of that ring.  There was something more yet to learn.

“I expect the rumor of her engagement is due to the fact that she wears a beautiful ring lately, the ring and the rumor go together, I expect,” and he looked keenly into Mr. Sherwood’s face, as if to read any unexpressed thoughts on the matter.