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thank you。〃
〃I intend to be so too；〃 said Lady Emily； cheerfully。
After some little talk； Euphra went； holding her hand to her
forehead。 Margaret did not look up； all the time she was in the
room； but went on busily with her needle。
That night was a peaceful one。
CHAPTER XXII。
THE RING。
shining crystal； which
Out of her womb a thousand rayons threw。
BELLAY： translated by Spenser。
The next day； Lady Emily was very nearly as well as she had proposed
being。 She did not； however； make her appearance below。 Mr。
Arnold； hearing at luncheon that she was out of bed； immediately
sent up his compliments； with the request that he might be permitted
to see her on his return from the neighbouring village； where he had
some business。 To this Lady Emily gladly consented。
He sat with her a long time； talking about various things； for the
presence of the girl； reminding him of his young wife； brought out
the best of the man； lying yet alive under the incrustation of
self…importance； and its inevitable stupidity。 At length； subject
of further conversation failing；
〃I wonder what we can do to amuse you； Lady Emily；〃 said he。
〃Thank you； Mr。 Arnold； I am not at all dull。 With my kind friend；
Mrs。 Elton； and〃
She would have said Margaret； but became instinctively aware that
the mention of her would make Mr。 Arnold open his eyes； for he did
not even know her name； and that he would stare yet wider when he
learned that the valued companion referred to was Mrs。 Elton's maid。
Mr。 Arnold left the room； and presently returned with his arms
filled with all the drawing…room books he could find； with grand
bindings outside； and equally grand plates inside。 These he heaped
on the table beside Lady Emily； who tried to look interested； but
scarcely succeeded to Mr。 Arnold's satisfaction； for he presently
said：
〃You don't seem to care much about these； dear Lady Emily。 I
daresay you have looked at them all already； in this dull house of
ours。〃
This was a wonderful admission from Mr。 Arnold。 He ponderedthen
exclaimed； as if he had just made a grand discovery：
〃I have it！ I know something that will interest you。〃
〃Do not trouble yourself； pray； Mr。 Arnold；〃 said Lady Emily。 But
he was already half way to the door。
He went to his own room； and his own strong closet therein。
Returning towards the invalid's quarters with an ebony box of
considerable size； he found it rather heavy； and meeting Euphra by
the way； requested her to take one of the silver handles； and help
him to carry it to Lady Emily's room。 She started when she saw it；
but merely said：
〃With pleasure； uncle。〃
〃Now； Lady Emily；〃 said he； as； setting down the box； he took out a
curious antique enamelled key； 〃we shall be able to amuse you for a
little while。〃
He opened the box； and displayed such a glitter and show as would
have delighted the eyes of any lady。 All kinds of strange
ornaments； ancient watchesone of them a death's head in gold；
cameo necklaces； pearls abundant； diamonds； rubies； and all the
colours of precious stonesevery one of them having some history；
whether known to the owner or not； gems that had flashed on many a
fair finger and many a shining necklay before Lady Emily's
delighted eyes。 But Euphrasia's eyes shone； as she gazed on them；
with a very different expression from that which sparkled in Lady
Emily's。 They seemed to search them with fingers of lightning。 Mr。
Arnold chose two or three； and gave Lady Emily her choice of them。
〃I could not think of depriving you。〃
〃They are of no use to me；〃 said Mr。 Arnold； making light of the
handsome offer。
〃You are too kind。I should like this ring。〃
〃Take it then； dear Lady Emily。〃
Euphrasia's eyes were not on the speakers； nor was any envy to be
seen in her face。 She still gazed at the jewels in the box。
The chosen gem was put aside； and then； one after another； the
various articles were taken out and examined。 At length； a large
gold chain； set with emeralds； was lifted from where it lay coiled
up in a corner。 A low cry； like a muffled moan； escaped from
Euphrasia's lips； and she turned her head away from the box。
〃What is the matter； Euphra？〃 said Mr。 Arnold。
〃A sudden shoot of painI beg your pardon； dear uncle。 I fear I am
not quite so well yet as I thought I was。 How stupid of me！〃
〃Do sit down。 I fear the weight of the box was too much for you。〃
〃Not in the least。 I want to see the pretty things。〃
〃But you have seen them before。〃
〃No； uncle。 You promised to show them to me； but you never did。〃
〃You see what I get by being ill；〃 said Lady Emily。
The chain was examined； admired； and laid aside。
Where it had lain； they now observed； in the corner； a huge stone
like a diamond。
〃What is this？〃 said Lady Emily； taking it up。 〃Oh！ I see。 It is a
ring。 But such a ring for size； I never saw。 Do look； Miss
Cameron。〃
For Miss Cameron was not looking。 She was leaning her head on her
hand； and her face was ashy pale。 Lady Emily tried the ring on。
Any two of her fingers would go into the broad gold circlet； beyond
which the stone projected far in every direction。 Indeed； the ring
was attached to the stone； rather than the stone set in the ring。
〃That is a curious thing； is it not？〃 said Mr。 Arnold。 〃It is of no
value in itself； I believe； it is nothing but a crystal。 But it
seems to have been always thought something of in the family；I
presume from its being evidently the very ring painted by Sir Peter
Lely in that portrait of Lady Euphrasia which I showed you the other
day。 It is a clumsy affair； is it not？〃
It might have occurred to Mr。 Arnold； that such a thing must have
been thought something of； before its owner would have chosen to
wear it when sitting for her portrait。
Lady Emily was just going to lay it down； when she spied something
that made her look at it more closely。
〃What curious engraving is this upon the gold？〃 she asked。
〃I do not know； indeed；〃 answered Mr。 Arnold。 〃I have never observed
it。〃
〃Look at it； thenall over the gold。 What at first looks only like
chasing； is； I do believe； words。 The character looks to me like
German。 I wish I could read it。 I am but a poor German scholar。
Do look at it； please； dear Miss Cameron。〃
Euphra glanced slightly at it without touching it； and said：
〃I am sure I could make nothing of it。But；〃 she added； as if
struck by a sudden thought； 〃as Lady Emily seems interested in
itsuppose we send for Mr。 Sutherland。 I have no doubt he will be
able to decipher it。〃
She rose as if she would go for him herself； but； apparently on
second thoughts； went to the bell and rang it。
〃Oh！ do not trouble yourself；〃 interposed Lady Emily； in a tone that
showed she would like it notwithstanding。
〃No trouble at all；〃 answered Euphra and her uncle in a breath。
〃Jacob；〃 said Mr。 Arnold； 〃take my compliments to Mr。 Sutherland；
and ask him to step this way。〃
The man went； and Hugh came。
〃There's a puzzle for you； Mr。 Sutherland；〃 said Mr。 Arnold； as he
entered。 〃Decipher that inscription； and gain the favour of Lady
Emily for ever。〃
As he sp