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Show IS'Intv tbc Jk:glnntno Gll!l 1Rose an!l $IIIler you're my Silver Girl, the design is all roses because it was in the time of roses, and it's a turquoise for reasons I 've told you. Our initials and the date are inside." Allison slipped it on her finger and struck a match that she might see it plainly. Isabel turned it on her finger listlessly. "Very pretty," she said, in a small, thin voice, after an awkward pause. "Why, dearest," he cried, "don't you like it?" "It's well enough," she answered, slowly, "but not for an engagement ring. Everybody else has diamonds. I thought you cared enough for me to give me a diamond," she said, reproachfully. "I do," he assured her," and you shall have diamonds-as many as I can give you. Why, sweet, this is only the beginning. There's a long life ahead of us, isn't there? Do you think I 'm never going to give my wife any jewels?" "Aunt Francesca and Rose put you up to this," said Isabel, bitterly. "They never want me to have anything." "They know nothing whatever about it," he replied, rather coldly, taking it from her finger as he spoke. "Listen, Isabel. Would you rather have a diamond in your engagemen~ ring?" "Of course. I'd be ashamed to have any- 'ltbe 'ltblrttetb of ;June body know that this was my engagement ring." " All right," said Allison, with deftant cheerfulness. uYou shall have just exactly what you want, and, to make sure, I 'II take you with me when I go to get it. I 'm sorry I made such a mistake." There was a flash of blue and silver in the faint light, and a soft splash in the lily-pool. "There," he went on, "it's out of your way now." "You didn't need to throw it away," she said, icily. "I didn't say I didn't want it, nor that I wouldn't wear it. I only said I wanted a diamond." "It could be found, I suppose," he replied, thoughtfully, ashamed of his momentary impulse. "If the pool were drained-- " "That would cost more than the ring is worth," Isabel interrupted. "Come, let's go in." He was about to explain that a very goodsized pool could be drained for the price of the ring, but fortunately thought better of it, and was bitterly glad, now, that he had thrown it away. In the house they talked of other things, but the thrust still lingered in his consciousness, unforgotten. "How's your father? " inquired Isabel, in a conversational pause, as she could think of nothing else to say. Qutcf tbc 'Willi |