brother's decision, you can still avoid the consequences of his
determination to live in that house. As I say, I cannot prevent
harm from befalling you, under present conditions; but these
conditions can be completely altered if you will make a single
concession, Miss Fenton."

"What is it?" eagerly.

"That you give me the ring!"

He paused for a very tense second. I wished I could see his
peculiar, young-old face--the face with the inscrutable eyes; the
face that urged, rather than inspired, both curiosity and
confidence.

Then he added:

"I know why you wear it; I realise that the trinket carries some
very tender associations. And I would never ask such a concession
did I not know, were your beloved here at this moment, he would
endorse every word that I say, and--"

"Harry!" cried Charlotte, her voice shaking. "He would tell me to
give it to you?"

"I am sure of it! It is as though he, through me, were urging you
to do this!"

For some moments there was silence. Charlotte must have been
tremendously impressed. It certainly was amazing the degree of