y a dishonorable part. He had accepted his destiny, and
now Daisy asked why he had not accepted it before. Anne made a feeble
excuse, the best she could think of.

"Perhaps he did not see a ring pretty enough," she said.

"It might be that," replied Daisy reflectively. "Giles has such good
taste. You did not show me what he gave you to-night."

Miss Denham would rather not have shown it, but she had no excuse to
refuse a sight of the gift. Without a word she slipped the bangle from
her wrist--Daisy's jealous eyes noted that she had kept it on till
now--and handed it to the girl.

"Oh, how sweet and pretty!" she cried, with artificial cordiality. "Just
a ring of gold with a coin attached. May I look?" And without waiting
for permission she ran to the lamp.

The coin was a half-sovereign of Edward VII., with three stones--a
diamond, an amethyst, and a pearl--set in a triangle. A thin ring of
gold attached it to the bangle. Daisy was not ill pleased that the gift
was so simple. Her engagement ring was much more costly.

"It's a cheap thing," she said contemptuously. "The coin is quite
common."

"It will be rare some day," said Anne, slipping the bangle on her wrist.
"The name of the King is spelt on this one 'Edwardus,' whereas in the
Latin it should be 'Edvardus.' I believe the issue is to be called in.
Consequently coins of this sort will be rare some day. It was kind of
Mr. Ware to give it to me."

Daisy paid no attention to this explanation. "An amethyst, a diamond,
and a pearl," she said. "Why did he have those three stones set in the
half-sovereign?"

Anne turned away her face, for it was burning red. She knew very well
what the stones signified, but she was not going to tell this jealous
creature. Daisy's wits, however, were made keen by her secret anger, and
after a few moments of thought she jumped up, clapping her hands.

"I see it--the initials of your name. Amethyst stands for Anne and
Diamond for Denham."

"It might be so," replied Miss Denham coldly.

"It is so," said Daisy, her small face growing white and pinched. "But
what does the pearl mean? Ah, that you are a pearl!"

"Nonsense, Daisy. Go you to bed, and don't imagine things."

"It is not imagination," cried the girl shrilly, "and you know that
well, Anne. What right have you to come and steal Giles from me?"

"He is yours," said Anne sharply. "The ring----"

"Oh, yes, the ring. I have his promise to marry me, but you have his
heart.