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There were never two partners at whist who were so courteous to each
other； so charitable to each other's blunders。 Indeed； neither would ever
admit that the other blundered。 Charlie used to make some frightful
mistakes occasionally that would have driven any other player mad； but
you should have seen the manner in which Franziska would explain that
he had no alternative but to take her king with his ace； that he could not
know this； and was right in chancing that。 We played three…penny points；
and Charlie paid for himself and his partner； in spite of her entreaties。 Two
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of us found the game of whist a profitable thing。
One day a registered letter came for Charlie。 He seized it； carried it to
a window； and then called Tita to him。 Why need he have any secret about
it？ It was nothing but a ringa plain hoop with a row of rubies。
〃Do you think she would take this thing？〃 he said； in a low voice。
〃How can I tell？〃
The young man blushed and stammered； and said：
〃I don't want you to ask her to take the ring； but to get to know
whether she would accept any present from me。 And I would ask her
myself plainly； only you have been frightening me so much about being in
a hurry。 And what am I to do？ Three days hence we start。〃
Tita looked down with a smile and said； rather timidly：
〃I think if I were you I would speak to her myselfbut very gently。〃
We were going off that morning to a little lake some dozen miles off to
try for a jack or two。 Franziska was coming with us。 She was； indeed；
already outside； superintending the placing in the trap of our rods and bags。
When Charlie went out she said that everything was ready； and presently
our peasant driver cracked his whip； and away we went。
Charlie was a little grave； and could only reply to Tita's fun with an
effort。 Franziska was mostly anxious about the fishing； and hoped that we
might not go so far to find nothing。
We found few fish anyhow。 The water was as still as glass； and as clear；
the pike that would have taken our spinning bits of metal must have been
very dull…eyed pike indeed。 Tita sat at the bow of the long punt reading；
while our boatman steadily and slowly plied his single oar。 Franziska was
for a time eagerly engaged in watching the progress of our fishing； until
even she got tired of the excitement of rolling in an immense length of
cord； only to find that our spinning bait had hooked a bit of floating wood
or weed。 At length Charlie proposed that he should go ashore and look out
for a picturesque site for our picnic； and he hinted that perhaps Miss
Franziska might also like a short walk to relieve the monotony of the
sailing。 Miss Franziska said she would be very pleased to do that。 We ran
them in among the rushes； and put them ashore； and then once more
started on our laborious career。
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Tita laid down her book。 She was a little anxious。 Sometimes you
could see Charlie and Franziska on the path by the side of the lake； at
other times the thick trees by the water's side hid them。
The solitary oar dipped in the lake； the boat glided along the shores。
Tita took up her book again。 The space of time that passed may be inferred
from the fact that； merely as an incident to it； we managed to catch a chub
of four pounds。 When the excitement over this event had passed； Tita said：
〃We must go back to them。 What do they mean by not coming on and
telling us？ It is most silly of them。〃
We went back by the same side of the lake； and we found both
Franziska and her companion seated on the bank at the precise spot where
we had left them。 They said it was the best place for the picnic。 They
asked for the hamper in a businesslike way。 They pretended they had
searched the shores of the lake for miles。
And while Tita and Franziska are unpacking the things； and laying the
white cloth smoothly on the grass； and pulling out the bottles for Charlie
to cool in the lake； I observe that the younger of the two ladies rather
endeavours to keep her left hand out of sight。 It is a paltry piece of
deception。 Are we moles； and blinder than moles； that we should
continually be made the dupes of these women？ I say to her：
〃Franziska； what is the matter with your left hand？〃
〃Leave Franziska's left hand alone；〃 says Tita； severely。
〃My dear；〃 I reply； humbly； 〃I am afraid Franziska has hurt her left
hand。〃
At this moment Charlie； having stuck the bottles among the reeds；
comes back； and； hearing our talk； he says； in a loud and audacious way：
〃Oh； do you mean the ring？ It's a pretty little thing I had about me； and
Franziska has been good enough to accept it。 You can show it to them；
Franziska。
Of course he had it about him。 Young men always do carry a stock of
ruby rings with them when they go fishing； to put in the noses of the fish。 I
have observed it frequently。
Franziska looks timidly at Tita； and then she raises her hand； that
trembles a little。 She is about to take the ring off to show it to us when
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Charlie interposes：
〃You needn't take it off； Franziska。〃
And with that； somehow； the girl slips away from among us； and Tita
is with her； and we don't get a glimpse of either of them until the solitude
resounds with our cries for luncheon。
In due time Charlie returned to London； and to Surrey with us in very
good spirits。 He used to come down very often to see us； and one evening
at dinner he disclosed the fact that he was going over to the Black Forest
in the following week； although the November nights were chill just then。
〃And how long do you remain？〃
〃A month；〃 he says。
〃Madam；〃 I say to the small lady at the other end of the table；〃 a
month from now will bring us to the 4th of December。 You have lost the
bet you made last Christmas morning； when will it please you to resign
your authority？〃
〃Oh； bother the be