e, "because I am not like other women. I cannot forget
such horrors in a moment." And she advanced again to the door, upon
which she laid her hand.

Unconsciously his eye followed the movement, and rested somewhat
inquiringly upon that hand. It was gloved, but to all appearance was
without the ring which he had seen her put on at the widow's house.

She seemed to comprehend his look. Meeting his eye with unshaken
firmness, she resumed, in a low and constrained voice:

"You are wondering about the ring that formed a portion of the scene we
are discussing. Mr. Orcutt, I told the gentleman who handed it to me
to-day that it was mine. That should be enough for the man who professes
sufficient confidence in me to wish to make me his wife. But since your
looks confess a curiosity in regard to this diamond, I will say that I
was as much astonished as anybody to see it picked up from the floor at
my feet. The last time I had seen it was when I dropped it, somewhat
recklessly, into a pocket. How or when it fell out, I cannot say. As for
the ring itself," she haughtily added, "young ladies frequently possess
articles of whose existence their friends are unconscious."

Here was an attempt at an explanation which, though meagre and far from
satisfactory, had at least a basis in possibility. But Mr. Orcutt, as I
have before said, was certain that the ring was lying on the floor of
the room where it was picked up, before Imogene had made her appearance
there, and was therefore struck with dismay at this conclusive evidence
of her falsehood.

Yet, as he said to himself, she might have some association with the
ring, might even have an owner's claim upon it, incredible as this
appeared, without being in the possession of such knowledge as
definitely connected it with this crime. And led by this hope he laid
his hand on hers as it was softly turning the knob of the door, and
said, with emotion:

"Imogene, one moment. This is a subject which I am as anxious to drop as
you are. In your condition it is almost cruelty to urge it upon you, but
of one thing I must be assured before you leave my presence, and that
is, that whatever secrets you may hide in your soul, or whatever motive
may have governed your treatment of me and my suit to-night, they do not
spring from any real or supposed interest in this crime, which ought
from its nature to separate you and me. I ask," he quickly added, as he
saw her give a start of injured pride or ir