He was a true lover; anxious to vindicate his lady's perfections before all the world, and perhaps to convince himself that his estimate was not exaggerated. The proof was so easy, the statue's left hand hung temptingly within his reach; he accepted the challenge, and slipped the ring up the third finger, that was slightly raised as if to receive it. The hand struck no chill, so moist and mild was the evening, but felt warm and almost soft in his grasp. "There," he said triumphantly, "it might have been made for her!" [Illustration: "THERE," HE SAID TRIUMPHANTLY, "IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR HER!"] "Well," said Ada, not too consistently, "I never said it mightn't!" "Excuse me," said he, "but you said it would be too large for her; and, if you'll believe me, it's as much as I can do to get it off her finger, it fits that close." "Well, make haste and get it off, Mr. Tweddle, do," said Ada, impatiently. "I've stayed out quite long enough." "In one moment," he replied; "it's quite a job, I declare, quite a job!" "Oh, you men are so clumsy!" cried Ada. "Let _me_ try." "No, no!" he said, rather irritably; "I can manage it," and he continued to fumble. At last he looked over his shoulder and said, "It's a singler succumstance, but I can't get the ring past the bend of the finger." Ada was cruel enough to burst out laughing. "It's a judgment upon you, Mr. Tweddle!" she cried. "You dared me to it!" he retorted. "It isn't friendly of you, I must say, Miss Parkinson, to set there enjoying of it--it's bad taste!" "Well, then, I'm very sorry, Mr. Tweddle; I won't laugh any more; but, for goodness' sake, take me back to the Hall now." "It's coming!" he said; "I'm working it over the joint now--it's coming quite easily." "But I can't wait here while it comes," she said. "Do you want me to go back alone? You're not very polite to me this evening, I must say." "What am I to do?" he said distractedly. "This ring is my engagement ring; it's valuable. I can't go away without it!" "The statue won't run away--you can come back again, by-and-by. You don't expect me to spend the rest of the evening out here? I never thought you could be rude to a lady, Mr. Tweddle." "No more I can," he said. "Your wishes, Miss Ada, are equivocal to commands; allow me the honour of reconducting you to the Baronial Hall." He offered his arm in his best manner; she took it, and together they passed out of the enclosure, leaving the statue in undisturbed possession of the ring. PLEASURE IN PURSUIT II. "And you, great sculptor, so you gave A score of years to Art, her slave, And that's your Venus, whence we turn To yonder girl----" Another waltz had just begun as they re-entered the Baronial Hall, and Ada glanced up at her companion from her daring brown eyes. "What would you say if I told you you might have this dance with me?" she inquired.