nwall, or
would she enjoy a trip to Paris or the Riviera? It was all one to him, he
assured her; only he had set his heart on getting back to London soon,
finding a house, and beginning life as they meant to live it.

Annesley chose Devonshire. She said she would like to show it to Knight.

"I think you'll love it," she told him. "We might stay at several places
I used to adore when I was a child. And if we get to Sidmouth, maybe
you'll have a glimpse of those cousins you were talking about, the
Annesley-Setons. I believe they have a place near by called Valley House;
but I don't know whether they live there or let it."

"We'll go to Sidmouth," he said.

The girl smiled. His desire that she should scrape acquaintance with Lord
and Lady Annesley-Seton seemed boyish and amusing to her, but she did not
see how it could be brought about.

Next morning at eleven o'clock, when Annesley had been up for two
hours, packing her new things in her new trunks and the gorgeous new
dressing-bag, she was informed that Mr. Nelson Smith had arrived.
The girl had forgotten that Knight had hinted at something to tell and
something to show her on the morning of their marriage day, and expected
to find his two friends with him; but he had come alone.

"We've got a half-hour together," he said. "Then Dr. Torrance and the
Marchese di Morello may turn up at any minute. Torrance is an elderly
man, a decent sort of chap, and deadly respectable. He'll do the heavy
father well enough. Paolo di Morello is an Italian. I don't care for him;
but the troublesome business about my name is a handicap.

"I can trust these men. And at least they won't put you to shame. You can
judge them when they come, so enough talk about them for the present!
This is my excuse for being here," and he put into Annesley's hand a
flat, oval-shaped parcel. "My wedding gift to my bride," he added, in a
softer tone. "Open it, sweet."

The white paper wrapping was fastened with small red seals. If the girl
had had knowledge of such things she would have known that it was a
jeweller's parcel. But the white, gold-stamped silk case within surprised
her. She pressed a tiny knob, and the cover flew up to show a string of
pearls which made her gasp.

"For the Princess, from her Knight," he said. "And here"--he took
from the inner pocket of his coat a band of gold set with a big white
diamond--"is your engagement ring. Every girl must have one, you know,
even if her engageme