e the difference. I couldn't believe that you had not meant what
you said."

He stirred uneasily. "I have been very ill--"

Her long white hands were ungloved, the diamonds that he had given her
sparkled as she drew the ring off slowly. "I felt that I ought to give
you this--if it was all really over."

"It is all over. But keep it--please."

"I should like to keep it," she admitted frankly, "because, you see,
I've never had a ring like this."

It was the Cophetua and Beggar Maid motif but it left him cold.
"Hilda," he said, "I saw you that night trying on my wife's jewels.
That was my reason."

She was plainly disconcerted. "But that was child's play. I had never
had anything--it was like a child--dressing up."

"It was not like that to me. I think I had been a rather fatuous
fool--thinking that there might be in me something that you might care
for. But I knew then that without my money--you wouldn't care--"

"People's motives are always mixed," she told him. "You know that."

"Yes, I know."

"You liked me because I was young and made you feel young. I liked you
because you could give me things."

"Yes. But now the glamour is gone. You make me feel a thousand years
old, Hilda."

"Why?" in great surprise.

"Because I know that if I had no wealth to offer you, you would see me
for what I am, an aged broken creature for whom you have no
tenderness--"

It was time for him to be getting back to the Lion House. They stopped
again at the gate. "If you will keep the ring," he said, "I shall be
glad to think that you have it. Jean gays Derry gave you a check. If
it is not enough to buy pink parasols, will you let me give you
another?" He was speaking with the ease of his accustomed manner.

"No; I am not an--adventuress, though you seem to think that I am, and
to condemn me for it."

"I condemn you only for one thing--for that flat bottle behind the
books."

"But you wanted it."

"For that reason you should have kept it away. You should have obeyed
orders."

"You asked me to doff my cap, so I--doffed my discipline." She was
standing on the ground, holding the door open as she talked; again he
was aware of the charm of her pink and white.

"Good-bye, Hilda." He reached out his hand to her.

She took it. "I am going to France."

"When?"

"As soon as I can." She stepped back and the door was shut between
them. As the car turned, Hilda waved her hand, and the General had a
se