"I have dropped my locket, Mr. Ford; is it near you? I cannot find it."

"Is it one you prize very much?" I asked.

"I should not like to lose it," she replied, and her face paled as
searching in the long grass she saw nothing of it.

I found it in a few minutes, but it was lying open; the fall had
loosened the spring. I could not help seeing the contents as I gave it
to her--a round ring of pale golden hair.

"A baby's curl?" I said, as I returned it to her.

Her whole face went blood-red in one minute.

"The only thing I have belonging to my little sister," she said. "She
died when I was a child."

"You must prize it," I said; but I could not keep the dryness of
suspicion from my voice.

"Mrs. Fleming," I asked, suddenly, "are you like Lance and myself,
without relations?"

"Almost," she replied, briefly.

"Strange that three people should be almost alone in the world but for
each other!" I said.