"Her health is miserable," returned Rosamond. "She has the heart disease, and her waiting-maid told me she was liable to die at any time if unusually excited." It might have been because Rosamond was there that Mr. Browning thought the room was brighter than it had been before, and quite calmly he listened while she told him more of her new friend. "She seemed so interested in you, and in Riverside," said Rosamond, "and even proposed coming home with me--" Mr. Browning started suddenly, and as suddenly a coal snapped out upon the carpet. This was an excuse for his movement, and Rosamond continued, "She thought, though, you might not care to see her, being a stranger, but she sent you _her love,_ and--. You are cold, ain't you, Mr. Browning? You shiver like a leaf. Ben said you'd had the ague." Rosamond closed the door and commenced again. "Where was I? Oh, I know. She said if you were not a confirmed bachelor she would try her powers on you. _'She was irresistible in her diamonds,'_ she bade me tell you. But have you an ague chill, really? or what makes your teeth chatter so? Shall I ring for more coal?" "No, Rosamond, no. Fire does not warm me; I shall be better soon." Rosamond pitied him, he looked so white and seemed to be suffering so much, and she remained silent for a time. Then remembering the note, she handed it to him, and turning toward the fire, stooped down to fix a bit of coal which was in danger of dropping from the grate. While in this attitude a cry between a howl of rage and a moan of anguish fell upon her ear--her shoulders were grasped by powerful hands, and looking up she saw Mr. Browning, his face distorted with passion and his flashing eyes riveted upon the _ring_ glittering in the firelight. Seizing her hand, he wrenched it from her finger, and glanced at the name--then, swift as thought, placed it upon the marble hearth, and crushed it with his heel. "It's mine--you've broken it," cried Rosamond, but he did not heed her, and gathering up the pieces, he hurled them into the grate--then, pale as ashes, sank panting into the nearest chair. Rosamond was thunder-struck. She did not suppose he had had time to read the note, and never dreaming there was any connection between that and his strange conduct, she believed him to be raving mad, and her first impulse was to fly. Her second thought, however, was, "I will not leave him. He has these fits often, now, I know, and that is why he sent for me. He knew I could quiet him, and I will."