"Kate, did you ever hear about Lord Exham losing a ring he valued very much?"
"Yes," answered Kate, without the slightest embarrassment; "it was my mother's ring."
"My mother loaned it to him. He admired it very much, and wished to have one made like it."
"The Duchess was sure that some lady had given it to him as a love gage. Do you know that he has fretted himself sick about its loss?"
"Oh, no! I am sure he is not sick. My mother made light of the loss to him, though she really was very much attached to that particular ring."
"It was more than that; it was her betrothal ring. Father bought it in Venice."
"But she had a slim little hand, then--like mine is now--" said Kate, laughing, and spreading out her hand for Annabel to observe.
"Then you must have been talking of rings, and shown it to him."
"I was wearing it. I had it on during the lunch hour, and you were present. It is a wonder you did not notice it, for you are so curious about finger-rings."
Kate did so, and Annabel listened with apparent curiosity. "I wonder what Exham could want with such a queer ring," she said in answer.
"Perhaps!" But the one word by no means explained the thoughts forming in her mind. She rose, and, lifting her bonnet, went to a mirror and carefully tied the satin ribbons under her chin, in the big bows then considered vastly becoming. Kate tried to arrest her hands. "Stay and take lunch with us," she urged. "Edgar is sure to be here; and I should like him to see you in that pretty cloth pelisse."
"Mr. Atheling never notices me; then why should he notice my pelisse? I heard Lady Inglis say that he is very much in Miss Curzon's society. If so, he will clash with his friend Mr. North, who is also her devoted slave."
"Now, Annabel! You know that Cecil North loves no one but you."
"How can you be so wise about his love-affairs?"
"No great wisdom is needed to see what he cannot hide."
"He was here last night. He called to tell us he was going to Westover on some business for his father. I suppose he wanted you to know."
"But you never thought of telling me. How selfish girls in love are! They cannot think a thought beyond their own lover. I declare I was going without giving you my news,--the Duchess has a large dinner party on the first of March. The Tory ladies will wait in her rooms the reading of this famous Reform Bill that Lord John Russell is concocting, and there will be a great crowd. Kate, if I was you, I would wear your court dress. It is very unlikely that the Queen will receive at all this season."