have some milk?" suggested Virginia. "I love milk. And I
could scarcely count the cows, they were so many, as I came up the
mountain from Alleheiligen."

"It's true there are plenty of cows about," replied her host, "and I
could easily catch one. But if I fetch the beast here, can you milk
it?"

"Dear me, no; surely you, a great strong man, would never stand by and
let a weak girl do that? Oh, I almost wish I hadn't thought of the
milk, if I'm not to have it. I long for it so much."

"You shall have the milk, lady," returned the chamois hunter. "I--"

"How good you are!" exclaimed the Princess. "It will be more than nice
of you. But--I don't want you to think that I'm giving you all this
trouble for nothing. Here's something just to show that I appreciate
it; and--to remember me by."

She would not look up, though she longed to see what expression the
dark face wore, but kept her eyes upon her hand, from which she slowly
withdrew a ring. It fitted tightly, for she had had it made years
ago, before her slender fingers had finished growing. When at last
she had pulled off the jeweled circlet of gold, she held it up,
temptingly.

"What I have done, and anything I may yet do, is a pleasure," said the
hunter. "But after all you have learned little of Rhaetia, if you
think that we mountain men ever take payment from those to whom we've
been able to show hospitality."

"Ah, but I'm not talking of payment," pleaded the Princess. "I wish
only to be sure that you mayn't forget the first woman who, you tell
me, has ever entered this door."

The young man looked at the door, not at the girl. "It is impossible
that I should forget," said he, almost stiffly.

"Still, it will hurt me if you refuse my ring," went on Virginia.
"Please at least come and see what it's like."

He obeyed, and as she still held up the ring, he took it from her that
he might examine it more closely.

"The crest of Rhaetia!" he exclaimed, as his eyes fell upon a shield
of black and green enamel, set with small, but exceedingly brilliant
white diamonds. "How curious. I've been wondering that you should
speak our language so well--"

"It's not curious at all, really, but very simple," said Virginia.
"Now"--with a faint tremor in her voice--"press the spring on the left
side of the shield, and when you've seen what's underneath, I think
you'll feel that you can't loyally refuse to accept my little
offering."

The bronze forefinger found a pin's