eshness about her which made her morning costume more
charming than that of the evening, and never did she look so well as
when arrayed for a walk. On this occasion she had certainly done her
best. But he, poor blind idiot, saw nothing of this. The white gauzy
fabric which had covered Isabel's satin petticoat on the previous
evening still filled his eyes. Those perfect boots, the little
glimpses of party-coloured stockings above them, the looped-up skirt,
the jacket fitting but never binding that lovely body and waist, the
jaunty hat with its small fresh feathers, all were nothing to him.
Nor was the bright honest face beneath the hat anything to him
now;--for it was an honest face, though misfortunes which had come
had somewhat marred the honesty of the heart.

At first the conversation was about indifferent things,--Killancodlem
and Mrs. Jones, Crummie-Toddie and Reginald Dobbes. They had gone
along the high-road as far as the post-office, and had turned up
through the wood and reached a seat whence there was a beautiful view
down upon the Archay, before a word was said affecting either Miss
Boncassen or the ring. "You got the ring safe?" she said.

"Oh yes."

"How could you be so foolish as to risk it?"

"I did not regard it as mine. You had accepted it,--I thought."

"But if I had, and then repented of my fault in doing so, should you
not have been willing to help me in setting myself right with myself?
Of course, after what had passed, it was a trouble to me when it
came. What was I to do? For a day or two I thought I would take it,
not as liking to take it, but as getting rid of the trouble in that
way. Then I remembered its value, its history, the fact that all who
knew you would want to know what had become of it,--and I felt that
it should be given back. There is only one person to whom you must
give it."

"Who is that?" he said quickly.

"Your wife;--or to her who is to become your wife. No other woman can
be justified in accepting such a present."

"There has been a great deal more said about it than it's worth,"
said he, not anxious at the present moment to discuss any matrimonial
projects with her. "Shall we go on to the Fall?" Then she got up and
led the way till they came to the little bridge from which they could
see the Falls of the Codlem below them. "I call that very pretty," he
said.

"I thought you would like it."

"I never saw anything of that kind more jolly. Do you care for
scenery,