he was silent and
said not one word of love.

Vere told me all about it afterwards, not the nice private little bits,
of course, but a general outline of the scene between them, and I could
imagine how pretty it must have been. Vere is bewitching when she is
saucy, and it is, oh, so good to see her saucy again!

"There sat Jim like a monument of propriety," she said, dimpling with
amusement at the remembrance, "and do what I would I could not get him
on to personal topics. I gave him half a dozen leads, but the wretch
always drifted on to the weather, or politics, or books, and I could not
corner him. Then at last I said mournfully, `Haven't you brought me a
_cadeau_, Jim? I looked forward to a _cadeau_. Is there nothing you
want to give me?' He apologised profusely, said there had been no time
before catching the train, but if there was anything at all that I
fancied when he went back to town he would be only too charmed. I
looked down and twiddled my fingers, and said bashfully, `Well, Jim, I
should like--a ring--!'"

Dear old Jim! Dear old loyal, faithful Jim! How I should have loved to
see his face at that moment!

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

_September 5th._
Every day Vere seems to improve. It is simply wonderful how she has
bounded ahead after the first start. Hope and happiness have a great
deal to do with it, the doctor says, and the expectation of being
better, which has taken the place of the old despair. She looks
deliciously happy, and satisfied, and at rest, while as for Jim--he is
ten years younger at the very least, and can hardly believe that his
good fortune is true, and not a dream.

Needless to say he bought the ring at once--such a beauty! A great big
pearl surrounded with diamonds. I mean to have the twin of it when I am
engaged myself. Vere wears it hung on a chain round her neck for the
present, but as soon as she can walk it is to go on her finger, and the
engagement will be announced. She has been propped up on her couch
higher and higher every day, and yesterday she actually sat on a chair
for half an hour, and felt none the worse.

We are all so happy that we don't know what to do--at least, I am
miserable enough sometimes when I am alone, and begin thinking of
myself. When Vere marries and goes away I shall be horribly dull, and
when Rachel marries I wonder where they will live--the Dudleys, I mean!
_The Dudleys_!