while it is just as nice to be as we are. We see
each other when we can; and Italy is Italy; and I am very contented.
Unfortunately, Sandie isn't."

"How long do you propose to go on waiting?"

"I don't know. Oh, I don't know! and I don't care. What is the harm of
waiting?"

"That depends on what you promise yourselves in being married."

"Dolly," said Christina thoughtfully, "I don't promise myself anything
much better than I have got now. If Sandie would only be content, I
could go on so for ever."

"And not be married?"

"Besides, Dolly, I don't want to keep house in a small way. I do not!
and if I married a lieutenant in the navy, I couldn't do anything else.
You see, Sandie would not live upon papa's money; though papa would do
anything for me; but Sandie won't; and on _his_ means we should live on
a very small scale indeed."

"But you would have enough?"

"Enough for what? We should have enough to eat. But, Dolly, I do not
like to have to think of economy. I have never been used to it. Look at
my room; see the things I have got together these last few days. Look
here--this is a ring I want you to wear for me. Isn't it delicious? It
is as old as the best time of cameo-cutting, they say, but I do not
remember when that was; it's rather large for a lady's ring, but it is
an undoubted beauty. Jupiter's eagle, with the thunderbolts. Just look
at the plumage of the bird,--and its fierce eye!"

Dolly was greatly delighted. Of all the pretty things she had seen
during the weeks past, she had bought nothing, save one or two bits for
her mother. This gift was vastly more to Dolly than Christina could
imagine. She had so literally everything she wanted, that no further
acquisition could give her great pleasure. It lacked the enhancement of
difficulty and rarity. I suppose the ring was more to Dolly than her
whole roomful beside to Christina. It was in truth a very exquisite
cameo. Dolly put it on her finger and looked at it in different lights,
and admired it and enjoyed it hugely; while at the same time it gave an
odd grace of setting-off to her simple dress. Dolly was in a plain
black silk, with no adornment at all, until she put the ring on. Unless
her quaint old cable chain could be called such. _That_ Dolly always
wore. She was a sweet, quaint figure, illuminated by the firelight, as
Christina observed her; girlish and graceful, with a fair face and
beautiful hair; the sober dress and the true womanly eyes ma