A Ring of Rubies

lie still. I am going to send mother to you."

  When I reached the door, I turned and looked back. Jack was gazingwistfully after me, his eyes were full of tears.

  "Rose, you're a brick," said the poor fellow; and then he turned hisface to the wall. I closed the door very softly and went down to thedrawing-room where mother sat.

  I went up to her, and took the mending out of her thin, white hands, andbending down kissed her.

  "What is the matter, Rose, my dear?" she said. We were not a family forembraces, and she wondered at this mark of demonstration. When sheraised her eyes to my face, she could not restrain a little cry, forwith all my efforts I did not absolutely conceal the marks of strongemotion.

  "Mother," I said, "you must put away your mending for the present."

  "Why so, my dear? I am particularly anxious to get on with thisinvisible darning, for I wish to begin to refront Jack's shirtsto-morrow."

  "The shirts must keep, mother. Jack wants you for something else justnow--he is very ill."

  "Ill? Poor fellow, he did look as if he had a bad headache."

  "Yes, I think we ought to send for Mr Ray."

  "What! For the doctor? Because of a headache? Rose, dear, are yougetting fanciful?"

  "I trust not, mother, but I really think Jack is ill, and I am afraid itis more than a headache that ails him."

  "What do you know about illness, child?"

  "Well, mother dear, go up yourself and see." My mother went softly outof the room. Her light footsteps ascended the creaking stairs. I heardher open Jack's bedroom door and shut it behind her. In about fiveminutes she had rejoined me in the drawing-room.

  "Rose, will you put on your hat, and go round to Mr Ray, and ask him tocall at once."

  My mother now spoke as if the idea of fetching the doctor had originatedwith herself.

  "Jack is very ill, Rose," she said, looking at me, pathetically.

  "Yes, mother, I fear he is. Now, listen to me, please; if you are goingto nurse him, you are not to be tired in any way; you are to have noanxieties down-stairs. When I go out, mother, I am going to fetch inJane Fleming as well as Mr Ray."

  Jane Fleming was a very capable woman who lived in the village; shecould take the part of housekeeper, nurse, cook, dressmaker, as occasionoffered. She was quiet and taciturn, and kept herself, as theneighbours said, "to herself." I felt that Jane would be a safe personto listen to Jack's wanderings, and that my mother might safely sleepwhile Jane watched by the sick man's side.

  Accordingly I said, "I will fetch in Jane Fleming," and I turned a deafear when my mother murmured the word expense.

  "If the worst comes I will sell the ruby ring," I thought to myself,"but I won't sell it unless all other resources fail me."

  I put on my hat and jacket and went out. The shades of evening werealready falling. I was dreadfully afraid that I might meet my fatherand George. I did not wish to see them at that moment. I felt thattheir coldness and want of sympathy would unnerve me. They would haveevery reason to be cold, for why should they fuss themselves over Jack'sbad headache? and yet I, knowing the tragedy which lay beneath thatapparently commonplace pain, felt that I could not stand the slightsneer of indifference which would greet my announcement at that moment.Jack, compared to George and my father, was a very black sinner indeed.The cardinal sin of theft could be laid at his door. He was guilty ofgross deception; he was weak, he was imprudent, nay more, he was mad,for by what sacred right had he bound his own life to that of another,when it was impossible for him to fulfil the vows he had taken?

  And yet, Jack, I loved you better than I had ever done before in mywhole life at that moment; now in your pain, your helplessness, yourdegradation, I would spare you even from a sneer. You trusted me, Jack,and I resolved to prove myself worthy of your trust, and, if possible,if in any way within my power, to save you.

  I walked down the village street, and reached Jane Fleming's house. Shewas ironing some collars in her neat kitchen.

  "Jane," I said, "my brother Jack is ill, and mother wants you to go upand help to nurse him."

  "Yes, Miss Rosamund," replied Jane, in her quiet, unsurprised way. "AmI likely to be required for the night, miss?"

  "Yes, Jane, you certainly are."

  "I'll be at Ivy Lodge in ten minutes, miss," replied Jane Fleming.

  I left the house without another word. Mr Ray lived a little fartheroff, but I was lucky in finding him also at home. I asked him to callto see Jack at once, and then I turned off in the direction of therailway station. I must be really wary now, for it would be fatal toJack's peace of mind were my father and George to see me going to townat that hour. I managed to elude them, however, and going into theladies' waiting-room scribbled a little note to my mother.

  "Dear mother," I said, "you must not be at all anxious. I am going totown on important business for Jack. Don't on any account tell fatherand George, and expect me home some time to-morrow."

  I gave my note to a small boy who was lounging about outside thestation. He was to deliver the little note into Jane Fleming's hands.No one else was to get it. I knew Jane sufficiently well to be sure shewould give it to my mother unobserved.

  Shortly afterwards my train came up, and I found myself being whirledback to London in a second-class compartment. Fares were cheap on ourline, and I was relieved to find that I had five shillings stilluntouched in my purse. I got to Paddington in a little over half anhour,--the train I travelled by was an express,--and then stepping intoan omnibus I was carried slowly, and with many provoking delays, toRegent Circus. I had never been in London by night before, and thedazzling lights and pushing crowds would have nonplussed me considerablyanother time. Under ordinary circumstances I might have feltuncomfortable and even a little afraid. Every idea of strict proprietyin which I had been brought up would have protested against thesituation in which I had placed myself. I was a lady, a very younglady, and it was not correct for me to perambulate these gaslit streetsalone.

  As it turned out, however, I had no time for fear, nor was there thesmallest cause for alarm. No one noticed the plainly, almost dowdilydressed girl, as with dull apprehension in her eyes, and a queer reservefund of fortitude in her heart, she hurried along.

  I soon reached the house I had visited early in the morning, and almostgave Buttons an electric shock by once more inquiring for Susan Ford. Iknew that it was necessary to propitiate Buttons, and poor as I was Iexpended sixpence on that worthy.

  "Go and tell Susan that I _must_ see her without fail, and at once," Isaid.

  Buttons stuck his tongue into his cheek, very nearly winked at me, butrefrained, and promising to do his best, vanished.

  Susan was evidently busy at this hour. I sat for nearly a quarter of anhour in that cold stone-flagged hall waiting for her. She came down atlast, looking perplexed and even cross.

  "My missis _is_ in a temper, Miss Rosamund. Of course I'm delighted tosee you, miss, but I can't stay; I really can't. We're all in no end ofconfusion up-stairs. Oh, Miss Rosamund, you do look cold and white! Iwish I could take you up to my room, but I just daren't. Is thereanything I could do for you, miss? Please say it as quick as you can."

  I clutched hold of Susan's shoulder.

  "You know the ring," I said.

  "Oh yes, miss; you don't want me to go back to Sam with it now, miss?"

  "No, no, no! I am not going to sell my precious ruby ring; but, Susan,you said to-day that your mistress sometimes hired out jewels. Fineladies, who wanted to look extra fine, borrowed jewels. Of course, whenthey borrowed, they paid. Look at my ring once again, Susan. See!Here under the gas-lamp, does it not sparkle? Would not the gems lookwell on a small, fair hand?"

  While I was speaking Susan remained motionless, but I noticed that shebegan to breathe hard and quick.

  "I do believe that this will set everything right," she said, "I do mostpositively believe it. You give me the ring, miss, and stay here. I'llbe back in a minute;
don't you stir till I come back to you, MissRosamund."

  "Listen, Susan, I must have money for the ring, money down. The moreyou can get the better, and I'll hire it out for one night only.Remember that, Susan, I only hire out the ring for one night."

  "All right, miss, give me the ring at once. This may set mattersstraight again. There ain't no saying. I'll attend to all you want,Miss Rosamund, never you fear."

  Susan almost snatched the old-fashioned little case out of my hand,sprang up the stairs three steps at a time, and vanished.

  I waited in the great, cold, empty hall with no other companion than myfast-beating heart.

  I had a curious sense of loneliness and even desolation, now that I