e wanting to engage me as the great noxious weed-killer
and poisonous insect exterminator if I made away with you," I answered. I
gave him an invitation to take a scat with me, and accepting, he swung up
with easy grace. There was any amount of accommodation for the two of us
on the good-natured branches of the old willow-tree.

When he had settled himself, my companion said, "Now, Syb, I'm ready for
you. Fire away. But wait a minute, I've got something here for you which
I hope you'll like."

As he searched in his pockets, I noticed that his eye had quite
recovered, though there was still a slight mark on his cheek. He handed
me a tiny morocco case, which on being opened disclosed a costly ring. I
have about as much idea of the prices of things as a turkey would have.
Perhaps that ring cost thirty pounds or possibly fifty guineas, for all I
know. It was very heavy, and had a big diamond supported on either side
by a large sapphire, and had many small gems surrounding it.

"Let me see if it fits," he said, taking my hand; but I drew it away.

"No; don't you put it on. That would make us irrevocably engaged."

"Isn't that what we intend to be?" he said in a tone of surprise.

"Not just yet; that is what I want to say to you. We will have three
months' probation to see how we get on. At the end of that time, if we
manage to sail along smoothly, we'll have the real thing; until then we
will not be any more than we have been to each other."

"But what am I to do in the meantime?" he asked, with amusement curving
the corners of his mouth.

"Do! Do the usual thing, of course; but don't pay me any special
attentions, or I'll be done with you at once."

"What's your idea for this?"

"It is no use making fools of ourselves; we might change our minds."

"Very well; so be it," he said laughing. I might have known you would
have things arranged different from any other girl. But you'll take the
ring and wear it, won't you? Let me put it on."

"No; I won't let you put a finger on me till the three months are up.
Then, if we definitely make up our minds, you can put it on; but till
then, don't for the life of you hint by word or sign that we have any
sort of an arrangement between us. Give me the ring and I'll wear it
sometimes."

He handed it to me again, and I tried it on. It was a little large.
Harold took it, and tried to put it on one of his fingers. It would fit
on none but the very top of his little finger. We la