Julia had recovered from her half-faint, and, supported by Robert and Emma, had walked home, and gone at once to her room, where she was attended by her maid; while Emma and Robert explained what had happened, and told where the rest of the party could be found. Greatly alarmed at the account given of Gertie, Edith had come at once to take her home, if possible; but this neither the doctor nor myself thought advisable. It was better for her to remain quietly where she was for a few days, and so the carriage returned without her, Edith promising to come again the next morning and see how she was. CHAPTER XLIII. THE COURSE OF LOVE DOES NOT RUN SMOOTH. Just before leaving, Godfrey went to Gertie, and, bending over her whispered a few words so low that no one heard them except the one for whom they were intended, and whose eye brightened as he said: “Good-by, darling. I must go now, but shall come early to-morrow morning.” He was holding her hand, and he noticed the absence of the ring and the scratch the stone had made when it was wrenched away. Instantly a cloud passed over his face and he looked searchingly at Gertie, but she knew nothing; and then he glanced at me. “Ettie, if you find anything of value about Gertie’s person, or on the floor, keep it till I come again,” he said; and then I knew he meant the ring, and was puzzled more than ever. Should I tell him where it was. No; he would see it for himself, I decided, as he went out from the room and joined his father and the ladies at the door.