himself
in jewellery of any sort, had lately taken this ring to London, and left
it with his jeweller, to be altered so as to fit a lady's finger. He
intended it for his future wife.

It had just been sent back to him.

Some people say, "There are no fools like old fools." It might be said
with equal truth, there are no follies like the follies of a wise man.

"I cannot possibly play the part of a lover," said Mr. Mortimer, and his
face actually changed its hue slightly when he spoke. "How shall I
manage to give it to her!"

He looked at the splendid gem, glittering and sparkling. "And I hate
insincerity," he continued. Then, having taken out the ring, he
inspected it as if he wished it could help him, turning it round on the
tip of his middle finger. "Trust her? I should think so! Like her? Of
course I do. I'll settle on her anything Giles pleases, but I must act
like a gentleman, and not pretend to any romantic feelings."

A pause.

"It's rather an odd thing," he further reflected, "that so many women as
have all but asked me--so many as have actually let other women ask me
for them--so many as I know I might now have almost at a week's notice,
I should have taken it into my head that I must have this one, who
doesn't care for me a straw. She'll laugh at me, very likely--she'll
take me, though!"

Another pause.

"No, I won't have any one else, I'm determined. I'll agree to anything
she demands." Here a sunbeam, and the diamonds darted forth to meet one
another. The flash made him wink. "If she'll only undertake to reign and
rule, and bring up the children--for she'll do it well, and love them
too--I'm a very domestic fellow, I shall be fond of her. Yes, I know
she'll soon wind me round her little finger." Here, remembering the
sweetness of liberty, he sighed. "I'll lay the matter before her this
morning. I shall not forget the respect due to her and to myself." He
half laughed. "She'll soon know well enough what I'm come for; and if I
stick fast, she will probably help me!" He shut up the ring. "She never
has had the least touch of romance in her nature, and _she knows_ that
_I know_ she didn't love her first husband a bit." He then looked at
himself, or rather at his coat, in a long glass--it fitted to
perfection. "If this crash had not brought me to the point, I might have
waited till somebody else won her. There goes the breakfast bell. Well,
I think I am decidedly glad on the whole."

CHAPTER XXIX.