But he did not attempt to explain it to her. It had vaguely occurred to him that she was teasing him, and he relapsed at once into his grave dignity. But the next instant he saw that he had been mistaken. She raised her clear, dark eyes to his face, and said, gratefully: "You do not laugh at my ignorance, Mr. Valchester--then I may dare to ask you a favor." As she spoke she drew a ring from her finger, and held it out to him. "Will you translate for me the French words in this ring?" she said. Many times afterward she wondered what had given her such courage to ask Ronald Valchester this question; she had always been too timid to ask anyone before. The student took the ring and held it up to the light of the lamp that swung in the tree above their heads. The diamond flashed and sparkled in the antique dead-gold setting. He read out aloud: "'_Sans peur et sans reproche._' It is a French motto, Miss Meredith. It simply means, 'without fear and without reproach.'" "Oh! what beautiful words," she cried. "Thank you, Mr. Valchester, very much. All my life I have wanted to know what those words in mamma's ring meant." "Anyone, almost, could have told you," he replied, as he handed it back to her. "Did you never ask anyone?" "No, I was ashamed to confess such pitiable ignorance," she answered, frankly. "You see, Mr. Valchester, my mother was French, and it seemed so odd that I should be ignorant of her mother-tongue." "No one could laugh at you for that," said Ronald Valchester, kindly. He was leaning against the tree carelessly, and Jaquelina sat on the rustic bench beneath it, the soft, white folds of her dress falling on the velvety green turf. A little beyond them was the square-cut cedar hedge that bounded the trim lawn. Jaquelina did not know what dark, gleaming eyes watched her beauty, as she sat there with the light falling down on her girlish face and form. She was looking at her companion, and recalling the words in which Walter Earle had praised him. "He is handsome, too," she said to herself. "What a beautiful, high, white brow, and clear-cut face. Mr. Earle must be very proud to have him for his friend." "Mr. Valchester, are you a poet?" she asked, suddenly. "No one ever accused me of being one," he answered, laughing. "Why do you ask me, Miss Meredith?" "You look like one," she said. Ronald Valchester laughed again. "Did you ever see a poet, Miss Meredith?" he asked. Then Jaquelina started and blushed. "No, in truth, I never did," she said. "It was only my fancy. Perhaps I should have expressed my thought better if I had said that you realize my ideal of how a poet should look." "You flatter me," he said, smiling, yet in his heart Ronald Valchester was pleased at her words, for he saw that she meant them and had no thought of flattering him. Quite naturally he said to her after a moment of silent thought. "Are you fond of poetry, Miss Meredith?"