umor is just a
little astray. Strange how things do get twisted round!"

"Are you quite sure there is no foundation for the rumor, Mr. Sherwood?"
and Guy held his chessman poised in the air while he waited the answer.

"Oh, well, there are some facts to start from, certainly; yet I do not see
how the news could have got abroad. I feel quite sure Dexie never told
anyone about it, and the matter is not known to anyone else in the house,
except myself. She does not care to have the matter spoken of just at
present, lest it be misconstrued."

"Then where is rumor wrong, if I may ask?"

"Well, Traverse, I promised not to speak of it, but I do not think she will
mind if I tell you."

Mr. Sherwood did not notice how eagerly Guy waited for the next words, for
he was studying his next move and seemed to have forgotten what he was
about to communicate.

"If Miss Dexie does not wish the matter spoken of, you may rely on my
discretion," Guy remarked, as a reminder.

"To be sure; well, the fact is, she has broken off the engagement, if there
was any, between herself and that young Englishman. I daresay you may have
heard us speaking of him, and he is soon to be married to a lady from his
own country; that leaves her free, contrary to Dame Rumor."

"Is it possible! And Miss Dexie--"

"Is as happy as a lark; do not extend your sympathy, Traverse, or you will
find it much misplaced."

If Dexie had guessed that the very one she had hoped to keep in ignorance
was the first one to be told the facts of the case, she would never have
parted with her _news_, even to her father.

Guy's heart bounded with hope and joy as he heard it, yet his happiness was
still overshadowed by the thought of that ring. There was something more
yet to learn.

"I expect the rumor of her engagement is due to the fact that she wears a
beautiful ring lately, the ring and the rumor go together, I expect," and
he looked keenly into Mr. Sherwood's face, as if to read any unexpressed
thoughts on the matter.

"Oh! she wears a new ring, does she? That's nothing, Traverse; most young
ladies are fond of jewelry, you know. There is nothing in it, depend upon
it, for if the ring had come from the other one I would have known it at
once--there! lost again, Traverse; I don't believe you are in a playing
humor to-night."

"Is there anyone likely to come between Miss Dexie and this young
Englishman, anyone who may have sent her the ring, Mr. Sherwood? You spoke