"I believe that ruby ring is of considerable value," continued my mother. "I know it well. It belonged to Geoffrey's mother, and was left to her by an old ancestress, who brought a good deal of money and considerable misery to the house. Geoffrey's mother would never wear the ring, but he was fond of it, and had a link made at the back to fasten it to his watch-chain. I know the large ruby in the middle is worth a great deal." All the time my mother was speaking she was going on with that endless darning which always gave me a sore dull feeling in my heart. If there is a dismal employment it is darning, and my mother's little delicate fingers looked as if they were surely never meant for such an ungainly task. "I wonder who Cousin Geoffrey has left all his money to?" I said suddenly. "I wonder if the rightful heirs will appear within the five years. I certainly should not like any of the relatives to have it." "I would not think about it, if I were you, Rosamund. We, of course, are completely out of it." "I don't know why we should be. You are one of the nearest relations." "Well, dear, we are out of it, so that ends the matter." My mother spoke with quite unwonted irritation. "It was a very curious will," I said after a pause; "very eccentric." "Geoffrey was always eccentric, Rose, I've told you so scores of times." "I wish I knew who was the heir," I repeated, getting up restlessly and standing by the fire. "Mother, have you any messages for me to do in town to-morrow?" "In town? Surely, Rosamund, you are not going up to London so soon again. You have got no money; how can you pay your fare?" "Yes, I have half-a-sovereign from my last allowance." "Oh, but that is extravagance." "I can't help it, mother. I must go to a jeweller to ask him to value the ring. Oh, no, I shan't sell it, but I cannot rest until I know its value." My mother looked vexed, but she knew it was useless to argue with me when I had fully made up my mind. "I do not know what girls are made of in these days," she remarked in a plaintive voice. "They are quite a different order of being from the girl of eighteen whom I used to know, when I was young. They are obstinate, and are quite sure to tell their elders every hour of the day that they know a great deal more about the ways and doings of life than they do, that they are quite capable of guiding their own actions." "Mother, you are not angry?" I said suddenly. "Oh no, dear," she replied at once. "I cannot help taking my own way, but I love you with all my heart," I said irrelevantly. "I must take my ring to town and have it valued, but believe me, I shall do nothing really rash." "I must trust you, Rose," she said then. "You are a queer girl, but I have never known you do a really imprudent thing in your life, except on the rare occasion when you would force yourself on Cousin Geoffrey's notice." "Mother dear, was that rash? I have got my beautiful ruby ring."