"Nevertheless"--and he went on, as if he didn't see me--"nevertheless, my beloved, I must say it showed great elevation of mind on your part to trust your future fate to a man, without so much as even a hint about his arms. But it only shows the beautiful devotion of woman! What have arms to do with the heart? Wedlock defies all heraldry." "I thought"--said I--"that, for a lawful marriage, the wedding ring must have the Hall mark?" "I don't think it indispensable. I take it, brass would be as binding. Indeed, my love, I think according to the Council of Nice, or Trent, or Gretna Green--I forget which--a marriage has been solemnised with nothing more than a simple curtain-ring." "Nonsense," said I; "such a marriage could never hold. Curtain-rings are very well in their way; but give me the real gold." "True, my love, that's the purity of your woman's nature. In such a covenant we can't be too real. Any way"--and he took my wedding-finger between his--"any way, LOTTY, yours seems strong enough to hold, ay, three husbands." "One's enough," said I, looking and laughing at him. "At a time"--said FRED; "but when we're about buying a ring, it's as well to have an article that will wear. Bless you," and he pressed his thumb upon my ring, "this will last _me_ out and _another_."-- "FREDERICK," I cried very angrily; and then--I couldn't help it--I almost began to weep. Whereupon, in his kind, foolish manner he--well, I _didn't_ cry. "Let us, my darling," said FRED, after a minute, "let us return to our arms. And you came in with the Normans?" "With WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, papa says, so we _must_ have arms."-- "I remember"--said FRED, as grave as a judge--"once, a little in his cups, your father told me all about it. I recollect. Very beautiful arms: a Normandy pippin with an uplifted battle-axe." "I never heard that"--said I--"but that seems handsome." "Yes; your ancestor sold apples in the camp. A fact, I assure you. It all comes upon me now. Real Normandy pippins. They show a tree at Battle--this your father told me as a secret; but as man and wife are one, why it's only one half talking to the other half--a tree at Battle grown from your ancestor's apple-pips. Something like a family tree, that." "I don't believe a word of it," said I. "You must. Bless you"--said FRED--"arms come by faith, or how many of the best of people would be without 'em. There's something innocent in the pippin: besides it would paint well. And with my arms"-- "Yes;" I cried; "and what are they, FRED?" "Well, it's odd: we were--it's plain--made for one another. I came from Normandy too." "You _did_?" and I _was_ pleased. "Yes," said he. "I wonder what terms our families were on a thousand years ago? To be sure, I came to England later than you; and I can't exactly say who I came with: but then--for I'm sure I can trust my grandmother--my descent is very historical. I assure you that your family pippin will harmonize with my bearings beautifully."