"Not there-that's the engaged finger; it would be unlucky. Not that ring." "Try it on any finger you like, then. I want to see the diamond." "What a child! can't you see it on my hand?" I don't like to see it on your hand. I hate to see it—why won't you take it off?" His brow darkened. "Some one has been talking to you about that ring, Leila. Who was it?” "I'll tell you if you'll take it off." "Well, I will then. There, 'tis off now. about it?" Who spoke to you "Mrs. Heathcote told me some lady gave it you." "The woman's a fool to speak to you of such a thing. She knows nothing about it." "But it was a lady gave it you ?" "As you ask me, Leila, it was. I will not tell you anything but the truth. It would be no use, for you would not believe me." "A lady gave it you, and you will not allow me to put it on. I hope there was nothing wrong in her giving it to you." "Nothing but what was honourable." "Then why must not I put it on?" "Because I promised that no one should except myself." "That was a strange promise. Are you engaged to the lady?" "Leila, how can you think such a thing of me? Certainly not." "Perhaps she is a married woman." "What put that into your head?" "Do you flirt with married women? They say men are fond of flirting with married women." "Married women are fond of flirting with men sometimes." "Do you make love to them ?" "You should blame your own sex if we do, Leila; no man, sitting at another man's table, would dare to make an advance to his friend's wife, unless he saw the way open to draw him on; it is the woman who tempts us astray." "But you-you would not let yourself be tempted? "I am not better than others." "I think you are, much better, as I know you are much greater than any other man.” "Don't you know, Leila, if a beautiful woman loves a man, the best of us is in her power?" "No, no; you are too honourable for that. I never thought of your doing anything wrong, or capable of it; if I had I could not trust you as I do." "Trust me for ever and ever, you, Leila, in the innocence of your heart you understand nothing of these things; it would be a profanation to attempt to explain them to you. A pure, unmarried girl can attract no affection but what is honourable; it is different with a married woman; she knows what she is doing, but in this case of the ring, there was no harm; I pledge you my honour." "Then can you tell me whose it was?" "I cannot." "And why? if I do not offend you by asking." "Well, Leila, if you must know, it was or seemed to be a love affair on her part. I thought so, and that if she so wished, it was not the man's place to hold back; not that I really cared for her, but I made her the proper advances. However, she was good, and I was very glad that she repulsed me." "She would wish me to marry her if her husband died." "Oh, Arthur! " "But I would never do that. I could not like her enough to marry her." "She believes that you would." "If she does I cannot help it." "And if her husband dies?" "That's very unlikely; he is a strong man for his age; a better life than I am." "But if he should die, what would you do?" "Keep out of her way. I would not have her for my wife, going so far as she ought not to have done." "Your wife must be like Cæsar's, without suspicion." 'Just so, Leila, pure as virgin snow." "Oh, men, men!" after Beware of your own sex, "Oh, women, women! we might say. Leila. No man will ever intend you harm; but do you know that when a woman is thoroughly bad, she is ten thousand times worse than any man?" "It may be so. her any promise? This one that gave you the ring-did you make Have you bound yourself to marry no one else to wait for her husband's death?" "Leila, how could you imagine-a woman that could do such a thing-have I not told you I would never marry her?" 66 But you are-free." have not told me you were not bound to remain as you "I am not, I could not be bound to any such thing under the circumstances; why, she never was anything to me." "She was in love with you; that is everything to a woman." "You know nothing about such things, Leila; you talk like a child." "I am no child; I can feel like a woman. If my heart were broken, I could die." "God forbid, my dear child; I am not worthy of such an affection." "I did not mean I hope I have not said what I ought not; " I sobbed out pitifully. "You have said nothing, done nothing but what I honour you for, my poor innocent child; it is I who am to blame." "Then you do not-care for me—at all." "I love you, darling; you are the first woman I have truly loved in all my life; but you are too young, too guileless, too angel like. I who am not worthy of you." "How can you say that? you, the greatest hero in the world! it would be a heaven on earth to die for you." "My darling! will you live for me then? will you take me as I am, with all my faults, and never reproach me for the past that cannot be recalled? all we have to do, is to make the best of the time to come." "I will live and die for a few kind words of yours; I am your own to do what you will with me." "She trusts me without a doubt or fear! everything concerning me." "And her you will tell me her name?" One day you shall know "No, never, Leila; that is not my own secret. You should not ask me to tell you that; it would not be honourable." "I did not think of it that way. Forgive me. Then that one secret must remain between us for ever?" "It must." Had I not eyes? Should I ever see him and Diana Hope Trevor together, if it was she, I should need no tongue to tell me so; if it was not she, most probably I should never know who it was, and should trouble myself the less, that it was not she; but that some woman had had him at her feet was not without stings of jealousy for me. He pressed my hands most tenderly, and kissed them, that was all. He did not clasp me to his heart as he might have done, but he looked at me; that look was enough. I was deeply blest beyond my heart's desire, though I knew not, scarce asked myself, whether we were engaged or not. (To be continued.) SPARKS FROM THE YULE-LOG. ENIGMAS. I. I never was, but always am to be; Who live and breathe on this terrestrial ball. II. I am red, black or white, I am blue, grey, or green, I'm intended to hide what is meant to be seen; Like mortals, inflexible, often am I, Till, by the tongue softened, I'm brought to comply. Of prodigal spendthrifts I am an apt token; I only exist to be ruined and broken. III. 'Tis in the church, but not in the steeple, |