han that, had forced him to
accept that liberation. Why then should his engagement with another
woman have any effect with her either in one direction or in the
other? She herself had submitted to a new engagement,--had done so
before he had shown any sign of being fickle. She could not therefore
be angry with him. And yet, because he could be fickle, because he
could do that very thing which she had openly declared her purpose of
doing, she persuaded herself,--for a week or two,--that any sacrifice
made to him would be a sacrifice to folly, and a neglect of duty.

At this time, during this week or two, there came to her direct from
the jewellers in London, a magnificent set of rubies,--ear-rings,
brooch, bracelets, and necklace. The rubies she had seen before, and
knew that they had belonged to Mr. Gilmore's mother. Mrs. Fenwick had
told him that the setting was so old that no lady could wear them
now, and there had been a presentiment that they would be forthcoming
in a new form. Mary had said that, of course, such ornaments as these
would come into her hands only when she became Mrs. Gilmore. Mrs.
Fenwick had laughed and told her that she did not understand the
romantic generosity of her lover. And now the jewellery had come to
her at the parsonage without a word from Gilmore, and was spread out
in its pretty cases on the vicarage drawing-room table. Now, if ever,
must she say that she could not do as she had promised.

"Mary," said Mrs. Fenwick, "you must go up to him to-morrow, and tell
him how noble he is."

Mary waited, perhaps, for a whole minute before she answered. She
would willingly have given the jewels away for ever and ever, so that
they might not have been there now to trouble her. But she did answer
at last, knowing, as she did so, that her last chance was gone.

"He is noble," she said, slowly; "and I will go and tell him so. I'll
go now, if it is not too late."

"Do, do. You'll be sure to find him." And Mrs. Fenwick, in her
enthusiasm, embraced her friend and kissed her.

Mary put on her hat and walked off at once through the garden and
across the fields, and into the Privets; and close to the house she
met her lover. He did not see her till he heard her step, and then
turned short round, almost as though fearing something.

"Harry," she said, "those jewels have come. Oh, dear. They are not
mine yet. Why did you have them sent to me?"

There was something in the word yet, or in her tone as sh