"And I must quietly endure his presence here, after this most annoying admission from you!" "There is something worse still you may have to endure," said Ethel, sadly; "the voyage on which he may too probably accompany us." Morley felt a keen pang in his breast at these words; he glanced, too, at the strange ring on Ethel's finger, which an emotion of pride or pique had hitherto prevented him from referring to. "It seems preposterous, Ethel," he exclaimed, "that this man should propose to accompany you, while I, your affianced lover, am left behind; and, by Heaven, it shall not be so!" "Dearest Morley!" "Poor as I am, Ethel, I am not so poor that I cannot pay my way to the Mauritius--in the same ship, too, and I shall write this very night to London about it!" "Oh, Morley--oh, what happiness!" "I shall take a berth in the forecastle bunks, rather than be left behind. You have now at your breast a flower that Hawkshaw gave you." "A flower!" "Yes,-a wild rose." "I had quite forgotten it; but let this show you how it is valued;" said Ethel, laughing, as she threw it on the ground, and placed thereon a pretty little foot, cased in a kid boot, with a heel of very military aspect. "My own dear Ethel!" exclaimed Morley, pressing to his heart her hand and arm, which leant so lovingly and confidingly on his, "I have one thing more to ask you about--this queer-looking ring with the green stone!" "Well?" "Is it a gift of his?" "Yes; when he first came to Laurel Lodge he begged me to accept of it, saying that it was found in Mexico, at some battle fought by Juarez, at a place with an unpronounceable name." "It was more likely found as he found those dollars about which he told us some time ago." "Mercy! do you think so?" "I am inclined to think the worst of him!" said Morley angrily and emphatically. "Oh! Morley, do not let prejudice blind you, and do not condescend to be jealous of him," said Ethel, imploringly; "I would return the ring, but that the act might affront him, giving, moreover, to its first acceptation, a significance, an air of importance, I have no wish should be attached to it. Do you understand me, Morley, dear? Then he is papa's friend and guest." Morley was pale with concealed annoyance. Ethel perceived this, and that he was distressed by the double prospect of a rival living in the same house with her, and embittering the few days that intervened before their long--alas! it might be final--separation. With her eyes full of tears, she drew Hawkshaw's gift from her finger, and gave it to Morley, begging him to return it to the donor at a fitting time. This was, to say the least of it, a most unwise request, with which he readily enough undertook to comply, and secured the ring in his portemonnaie, as they rejoined their friends, who were now gathered round the shamble oak in the centre of the chase.