nding near. Dexie
blushed painfully when attention was called to the ring by her teasing
friends; but she would acknowledge nothing when they tried to draw the
truth from her lips. When Guy Traverse joined the circle, to see what all
the fun and laughter meant, Dexie rose to her feet and slipped away, unable
to meet his eyes. But, with the knowledge he had of Dexie's affairs, he
thought there could be only one explanation of the ring's appearance; her
engagement to the lover over the sea must be a settled fact. But Guy's
frequent visits to the Sherwoods made the rest believe there was an
engagement between him and Dexie.

Dexie's ring aroused considerable discussion among her friends, and it only
made it seem more complicated when Gussie declared to a friend that she
believed "Dexie had that ring before she left Halifax, but never wore it."

But it was her sign of freedom, and its glitter and sparkle was like the
light of her own eyes when they rested upon it. She was afraid that her
secret, that sweet secret of her own, might be surprised from her. Not for
worlds would she have _that_ person know that her heart had awakened at
last. With that ring on her finger, who could charge her with caring for
anyone but the giver?

Guy Traverse thought he had every reason to feel sad and gloomy. How was it
that he ever supposed she cared for him, for now she was as reserved and
cool when in his society as she had before been frank and pleasant, and, of
course, that ring was responsible for the change.

Gussie took the opportunity of relating to Guy, as well as to others, many
an interesting story concerning Dexie and her Halifax lover, but she
neglected to add that most of her stories were creations of her own brain.
Guy felt little interest in these stories. He felt that there was
something going on that he did not understand, but he intended to ask an
explanation from Dexie at his first opportunity, feeling quite sure she
would own the truth to him.

But the opportunity did not present itself readily, and even Mr. Sherwood
felt the change and wondered what had come between Dexie and his friend. He
tried to seek into the trouble, but could find no explanation of it.

Mr. Sherwood was able now to be lifted to a wheeled chair or couch, and as
he could be gently wheeled from room to room, he found the change quite
agreeable. The time did not seem so long as when he was confined within
four walls.

There were times when Dexie