“I think your trouble was imaginary, Guy,” smiling.  “The ring, in the first place, did not signify an engagement, though it was the sign of a promise which Lancy Gurney and I made to each other.  He was to ask me again to marry him at the end of a year, unless during that time we found there was someone else we liked better.  As you know, I did not wait for the year to be up before I asked to be released.  Oh, yes, I confessed that I had met someone that had the first place in my heart,” she blushingly admitted.

“And you told him what you would not tell me!  Oh, Dexie!”

“Yes, for I promised him I would be honest with him.  This led to explanations on both sides, and to assure him I still felt kindly towards him I agreed to keep and wear his ring.  I wore it gladly, because it reminded me I was free to love where I chose; besides it helped to keep you from guessing that I had given my love without the asking.  That is all, Guy, so you see the words engraved inside are honest and true.”

“My dear little wife! but how could I guess that the ring meant so much happiness to me.  It did indeed deceive me, but this shall tell the truth from the start.”

“I do wish you had not bought it—­just yet.  Everyone will make remarks about it.  Something plainer would not proclaim our secret to the world as this will surely do.”

“Yet I thought it not good enough for the dear hand that was to wear it.  Let me put it on, Dexie.  Think how many times I shall see you when there will be no chance to say a word to you, but when I see the ring I can say, ‘She is mine! mine!’ How sweet to know that it is so!” and he kissed her hand as he slipped the ring on her finger.

“Mine now, dearest; yet you seemed so far away from me only a few hours ago.  How surprised your father will be!  I wish he could see you here in my arms.”

“Oh, hush! that would be dreadful!  Was he surprised this afternoon at your errand?  I thought it was you who left those papers; but when you announced your coming marriage this evening, then I began to doubt,” and she laughed softly.

“It was a surprise at first, but he consented at last to give me his treasure—­if I could get her.”

“Poor papa, I will never leave him.  No one else seems to have time to be with him or amuse him as I can, and it is hard for him to feel so helpless when he has such a restless and energetic disposition.”

“I promised not to take you away while he needed you; but, dearest—­I do not want to alarm you—­I do not think he will have to bear his pain many weeks longer.  He is failing, I can see, and he told me to-day that he felt his strength going fast.”

“I know it is so, though I have tried to put the thought aside.  Dear papa, how good he has been to me!  What news this will be to him!  But I hope no one else will find it out—­just yet.  Everything must go on much as usual, before others anyway,” smiling into his happy face.