He drew the ring from his finger and passed it to her. It was an old-fashioned gold ring, set with a single ruby. Inside it was engraved in obsolete spelling, a "posy"-- "In thys my chance I doe rejoyce." "I shall know this again," said Celia, returning the ring after a close inspection. "'Tis an old jewel." "A family heirloom," said Edward. "Our mother was married with that ring. It came into out family as the wedding-ring of Lady Grissel Fleming, our grandmother. I will endeavor to contrive, dear Cicely, that by some means this ring shall reach your hands after my death. When you next see it in the possession of any but myself, it will signify to you that I have entered into my rest." "Edward, where is your wife?" asked Celia, suddenly. A spasm of pain crossed Edward's face. "I have no wife," he said. "The Lord had more need of my Flora than I had, and two summers past He said unto her, 'Come up higher.' I am almost glad now that she was spared this. I saw her but twice after I parted from you at Havre. And I do not think it will be long now ere I shall see her again." "You seem to like the prospect, Edward," said Celia, remonstratingly. "Have I so very much to live for, my sister? I can do no good to you, especially now that we must be parted; and my sole object in life is to do and suffer all the will of God. Do you wonder if I wish at times that it would be the Lord's will to summon me home?" There was a short pause, broken by Edward's sudden exclamation, "Celia!" She looked up to see what was coming. "How long have you known of this chamber?" "Harry said he had known of it for five years; I never heard a word about it before to-night." "Did he suspect that it was occupied?" "I think he said it was, or had been, shortly before he discovered it." "Would you like to know by whom?" "Very much. Why, Edward, how do you know?" "There is not time to explain that; but I can tell you that Father Stevens, a Jesuit priest, was in hiding here for some time, and for about two months, Gilbert Irvine." "What were they doing here? and how did they get their provisions?" "What Stevens was doing I cannot say; but Gilbert's object was you. He was sent here by my mother to make himself acquainted with you by sight, and to discover all he could about you and your friends here. As to provisions, he catered for himself in the village and elsewhere; but on two or three occasions, when he dared not venture out, and was very hard bestead, he supplied himself from Mr. Passmore's larder." "How did he get there?" "Through your room." "Edward!" "It was a bold move, and might have cost him dear if you had awoke." "Do you mean to say that he did it while Lucy and I were sleeping in the room?" "Yes," said Edward, with his grave smile.