"Serves you right!" she said, unrelenting, determined to teach him by a bitter lesson what punishment she reserved for rebels. At this moment his eye perceived the ring that Lindaberry had placed on her finger. At the same instant she caught his glance, and flourished her hand tantalizingly before his eyes. "Isn't it beautiful?" "What's that mean?" "It means I'm engaged!" she said demurely. "Who lent you that thing?" "I'm a very mysterious person," she said gravely. "Look out! Some day you'll find me married before you know it!" He looked at her with his intimidating, magisterial stare. "Oh, you don't frighten me at all, Your Honor!" she said, making a face. "I don't believe a word you say! You've borrowed the ring, and you've made ready a fine story; but I'm not going to give you the pleasure. Will you dine with me?" "Previous engagement!" "With your fiancé, of course?" "Quite right!" "That's serious?" he said, rising, and containing his wrath with difficulty. "Very serious!" "Good-by, then!" "Au revoir or good-by?" "Good-by!" he said dryly and with emphasis. She accompanied him to the door with a well simulated mask of tragedy, shook hands gravely, and suddenly, with a burst of laughter, called after him: "To-morrow--here--same hour! If you're not on time you won't find me!" The next day she told him, very seriously, the story of the ring, and with the true spirit of fiction, assimilating all that came to her ear and turning it into personal experience, she profited by what Winona had told her. "You are sure you want to know?" she began, with a little alarmed air. He nodded with a jerky, irritated motion. "You will be annoyed," she said, hesitating; "you won't like it!" "Begin!" "Very well! I've told you often my time is not my own. The truth is that at any moment I may have to go when I am called," she began. Her starts were always rather jerky until the mood had enveloped her. Suddenly she remembered Winona and dashed ahead. "The person who gave me this ring is an old man, sixty-five years of age--very rich. You have often wanted to know how I manage to live. He gives me the money. I have signed a contract to marry him when three years are up. There! Now you know all! That is my fate--if he lives! To-day he is desperately ill." She went to the window, draping herself in the proper tragic pose, gazing out into the clear frozen twilight, drawing a deep sigh.