Mrs. Webber ran a curious eye over me, and said: ‘I had my theory, but I own the gipsy creature has driven it out of my head. Is it _quite_ impossible, my dear Mrs. Lee, that Miss C---- may have been robbed of her rings? Why should she be found without any jewellery upon her? Your station in society is easily guessed, Miss C----, and I must say, now the gipsy woman has suggested the idea, that your having been found without rings, without a watch and chain, without earrings or brooch, without, in short, a single ornament such as one might most reasonably expect to find a lady wearing, looks uncommonly like as though you had been robbed. In which case,’ she added, somewhat breathlessly, ‘you _may_ have worn a wedding ring.’ ‘Miss C---- had a purse with money in it in her pocket,’ said Mrs. Lee, who never called me by the name her daughter had given to me before strangers. ‘A thief who would steal rings or a watch and chain would certainly steal a purse with money in it.’ ‘But--forgive me for being candid, Miss C----; whatever I say, whatever I may say, is _wholly_ for your sake--is wholly with the idea of helping you to remember,’ said Mrs. Webber; ‘is it likely that a lady occupying your position in society would be without a single ring?’ She glanced at her own plump white hands, upon which sparkled a variety of valuable gems. Alice Lee pulled off her silk gloves, and, lifting up her poor thin hands, exclaimed with a smile in her voice--her face was concealed by her veil--‘You may see, Mrs. Webber, that I do not wear rings.’ ‘There may be a reason,’ exclaimed Mrs. Webber, looking a little nonplussed. ‘Yes, there is a reason to be sure,’ said Mrs. Lee, bringing her eyes away from her daughter’s hands with a look of pain in her face, ‘Alice never cared for jewellery of any sort.’ ‘I could name two girls of my acquaintance, Mrs. Webber,’ said Alice, putting on her gloves, ‘who do not wear rings, not because they cannot get them, their fathers are rich merchants at Newcastle-on-Tyne, but because, like me, they do not care for rings. I dare say we could name others, mother, if we were to take the trouble to think.’ ‘But would you be without a watch, Miss C----?’ said Mrs. Webber. ‘Do not ask me!’ I cried. ‘All the while you are conversing I am struggling with my mind.’ ‘Take a few turns with me, dear,’ said Alice, rising, ‘and then we will go downstairs and lunch together quietly in our cabin. I do not feel well enough to lunch in the saloon.’ So I gave her my arm, and we paced the deck. Mrs. Webber took my chair and talked with Mrs. Lee in a voice which she softened as we approached, gesticulating with considerable energy, as though she sought to convince her companion. After we had taken four or five turns, Alice complained of feeling weary; we then descended into the saloon and passed into the cabin. * * * * *