Slowly she
turned on her finger the worn band of gold that her gallant Captain had
placed there ere he went to war. It carried still a deep remembrance too
holy for speech. "Property," repeated the old lady, in a whisper. "Ah,
but how dear it is to be owned!"
"I don't mind wearing it," said Isabel, with a patronising air, "but I
want it as narrow as possible, so it won't interfere with my other
rings, and, of course, I can take it off when I like."
"Of course, but I would be glad to have you so happily married, my dear,
that you wouldn't want to take it off--ever."
"I'll have to ask Mamma to send me some money for clothes," the girl
went on, half to herself.
"Don't bother her with it," suggested the other, kindly. "Let me do it.
Rose and I will enjoy making pretty things for a bride."
"I'm afraid Cousin Rose wouldn't enjoy it," Isabel replied, with an
unpleasant laugh. "Do you know," she added, confidentially, "I've always
thought Cousin Rose liked Allison--well, a good deal."
"She does," returned Madame, meeting the girl's eyes clearly, "and so do
I. When you're older, Isabel, you'll learn to distinguish between a mere
friendly interest and the grand passion.
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