"I'm sure it isn't my wish to be ceremonial," she said; "but we're all among friends--for I should like to look upon you as a friend, if you'll let me," she added rather dubiously, to Bella. "And I don't really think there could be a better occasion for a sort of little ceremony that I've quite set my heart on. Leandy, _you_ know what I mean; and you've got it with you, I know, because you were told to bring it with you." "Miss Tweddle," interrupted Matilda, hurriedly, "not now. I--I don't think Vidler has sent it back yet. I told you, you know----" "That's all you know about it, young lady," she said, archly; "for I stepped in there yesterday and asked him about it, to make sure, and he told me it was delivered over the very Saturday afternoon before. So, Leandy, oblige me for once, and put it on the dear girl's finger before us all; you needn't be bashful with us, I'm sure, either of you." "What is all this?" asked Mrs. Collum. "Why, it's a ring, Mrs. Collum, ma'am, that belonged to my own dear aunt, though she never wore it; and her grandfather had the posy engraved on the inside of it. And I remember her telling me, before she was taken, that she'd left it to me in her will, but I wasn't to let it go out of the family. So I gave it to Leandy, to be his engagement ring; but it's had to be altered, because it was ever so much too large as it was." "I always thought," said Mrs. Collum, "that it was the gentleman's duty to provide the ring." "So Leandy wanted to; but I said, 'You can pay for the altering; but I'm fanciful about this, and I want to see dearest Miss Collum with my aunt's ring on.'" "Oh, but, Miss Tweddle, can't you see?" said Matilda. "He's forgotten it; don't--don't tease him about it.... It must be for some other time, that's all!" "Matilda, I'm surprised at you," said her mother. "To forget such a thing as that would be unpardonable in _any_ young man. Leander Tweddle, you _cannot_ have forgotten it." "No," he said, "I've not forgotten it; but--but I haven't it about me, and I don't know as I could lay my hand on it, just at present, and that's the truth." "_Part_ of the truth," said Bella. "Oh, what deceitful things you men are! Leave me alone, James; I will speak. I won't sit by and hear poor dear Miss Collum deceived in this way. Miss Collum, ask him if that is all he knows about it. Ask him, and see what he says." "I'm quite satisfied with what he has chosen to say already, Miss Parkinson; thank you," said Matilda. "Then permit me to say, Miss Collum, that I'm truly sorry for you," said Bella. "If you think so, Miss Parkinson, I suppose you must say so." "I do say it," said Bella; "for it's a sorrowful sight to see meekness all run to poorness of spirit. You have a right to an explanation from Mr. Tweddle there; and you would insist on it, if you wasn't afraid (and with good reason) of the answer you'd get!"