She returned to Nanny, and Gavin set off, holding his head high, his brain in a whirl. Five minutes afterwards, when Nanny was at the fire, the diamond ring on her little finger, he came back, looking like one who had just seen sudden death. "I had forgotten," he said, with a fierceness aimed at himself, "that to-morrow is the Sabbath." "Need that make any difference?" asked the gypsy. "At this hour on Monday," said Gavin, hoarsely, "I will be at the Kaims." He went away without another word, and Babbie watched him from the window. Nanny had not looked up from the ring. "What a pity he is a minister!" the girl said, reflectively. "Nanny, you are not listening." The old woman was making the ring flash by the light of the fire. "Nanny, do you hear me? Did you see Mr. Dishart come back?" "I heard the door open," Nanny answered, without taking her greedy eyes off the ring. "Was it him? Whaur did you get this, lassie?" "Give it me back, Nanny, I am going now." But Nanny did not give it back; she put her other hand over it to guard it, and there she crouched, warming herself not at the fire, but at the ring. "Give it me, Nanny." "It winna come off my finger." She gloated over it, nursed it, kissed it. "I must have it, Nanny." The Egyptian put her hand lightly on the old woman's shoulder, and Nanny jumped up, pressing the ring to her bosom. Her face had become cunning and ugly; she retreated into a corner. "Nanny, give me back my ring or I will take it from you." The cruel light of the diamond was in Nanny's eyes for a moment, and then, shuddering, she said, "Tak your ring awa, tak it out o' my sicht." In the meantime Gavin was trudging home gloomily composing his second sermon against women. I have already given the entry in my own diary for that day: this is his:--"Notes on Jonah. Exchanged vol. xliii., 'European Magazine,' for Owen's 'Justification' (per flying stationer). Began Second Samuel. Visited Nanny Webster." There is no mention of the Egyptian. CHAPTER XVI. CONTINUED MISBEHAVIOUR OF THE EGYPTIAN WOMAN.