Part 30 (1/2)
”You don't appreciate the situation; you really don't. Entirely between us, I wonder that I ever had the courage--the cheek!--to tell you how much I love you; how dear to me is the ground under your small feet; how I long to have you in my arms--you, with the Bank of England at your back; and I! But--Caesar's ghost!--what am I dreaming about? The sight of you, the touch of you, the sound of you, has so--so got into the very bones of me that I'd clean forgotten.
Why--Stella!--what's this?”
He took a small, round, leather-covered box out of his waistcoat pocket.
”My dear Rodney--how should I know what it is?”
As she looked at the outside of the box her eyes began to sparkle--as if she did not know!
”There! Why, it's a ring!”
”What a pet.”
”Give me your hand!”
”That's not the proper hand.”
”Isn't it? Which is the proper hand?”
”Rodney! How ignorant you are!”
”My dear, have I had your experience?”
”My experience!--silly! I thought everybody knew on which hand the engagement finger was--there!--that is the finger!”
She held out to him a finger which, if it was small, was slim and daintily fas.h.i.+oned. He bent and kissed it.
”Dear digit!--salutation! Now, you unclothed midget, I'll clothe you with this ring.”
”Oh, Rodney, what--what a darling!”
She pressed it to her lips.
”Does it fit?”
”As if it were made for me.”
”Isn't that wonderful, when I only guessed?”
”Thank you--thank you, Rodney.”
”It's only a poor little ring--a love token, to mark you as my own--that's all. But one day I'll give you the finest ring that money can buy, and you can put it in the place of this.”
”As if I ever would--or could! Rodney, this is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen--ever, ever, ever! And it always will be the most beautiful ring in the world--to me. No other will ever take its place.”
Her voice fell as she moved a little closer to him.
”I shall hope to be still wearing it when I am lying in my grave.”
”Dear love!”