e were handed over.

"'Tis not hard," said Dickie, "t' guess the contents of a wee box
like that. I could surmise them myself."

Peggy started.

"Wh-wh-what!" she ejaculated. "You know the contents! Oh, dear me!"

"No, I don't know the contents. I could guess them, though, an I had a
mind to."

"You never could guess. 'Tis not in the mind of a man t' fathom such a
thing as that. There's a woman's secret in this wee box."

"'Tis a ring."

"A ring!" Peggy challenged. "You'd not care, Dickie Blue, an 'twas a
ring t' betroth me!"

Dickie Blue was sure that his surmise had gone cunningly to its mark.
Pride flashed to the rescue of his self-esteem. His face flared. He
rose in wrath.

"Betrothed, is you?" he flung out. "I'll weather it, maid! Ha! I'll
weather it!"

"Weather it!" cried poor Peggy, in a flame of indignation.

"I'm not hurt!"

"Sit you down!"

"I'll not sit down. I'm goin'."

"Sit you down, oaf that you is!" Peggy Lacey commanded. "I'll read my
letter an' open my packet an' return. Don't ye budge! Don't ye dare!"

Peggy Lacey swept out of the kitchen. Her head was high. There was no
compassion in her heart. Nor was she restrained by any lingering fear
of the consequences of that wicked deceit to the immediate practice of
which she had committed herself. And as for Dickie Blue, he sat
stock-still where she had bade him remain, his eyes wide with the
surprise of the domination. He did not budge. He did not dare.

* * * * *

Precisely what Peggy Lacey did in the seclusion of her chamber it
would be indelicate to disclose. Moreover, I am not minutely aware of
all the intricacies of the employment of those mysterious means by
which she accomplished the charming effect that she did in some
intuitive way presently accomplish; and at any rate I decline the task
of description. I confess, however, that the little packet contained a
modest modicum of the necessary materials, whatever they were; and I
have no hesitation in praising the generous interest, the discretion
and exuberant experience of the gay widow of the late Cap'n Saul Nash
o' the _Royal Bloodhound_, whose letter, dealing with the most
satisfactory methods of application, as related to the materials
aforesaid, whatever they were, and whose wisdom included a happy
warning or two--I have no hesitation in admitting that the letter was
completely sufficient to enlighten the ignorance of pretty Peggy
Lacey, and