"If my respected father and brothers heard me now they would think that
I had taken leave of my senses," I soliloquised. "Well, this is a dear
little ring, and I am glad Cousin Geoffrey gave it to me. How small it
is--it won't go on my tiniest finger. I wonder what kind of woman wore
it last. It is of heavy make to be a woman's ring. How solid the gold
is, and how quaintly carved. I see there is the device of a serpent
worked very richly into the gold at each side, and the smaller ruby
forms the eye. Really, this looks like witchery, a serpent with a fiery
eye. Two serpents, rather, for each is complete in itself. How much to
get into so little. No wonder the ring is heavy. Very different from
that little slender hoop of mother's which contains the single small
bright diamond, which used to delight me when I was a child."
Having examined the ring from every point of view I presently blew out
the precious Christmas tapers. They were much too valuable to waste, so
I put them back into my box, placed the ring in its case by their side,
and got into bed.
The next morning I spoke to my mother. "I have been disappointed in my
first effort to open the oyster-shell," I said.
"What do you mean, Rosamund?"
"Only that I must seek some other means to secure the necessary money to
take me to the Slade School."
"My darling, I wish you would put such a futile idea out of your head."
"Mother dear, I cannot. It is fixed and established there by this time.
I must go to the Slade School, and I must find the means for defraying
the necessary expenses. Now, if I were to sell my ruby ring--"
"Oh, Rose, you surely are not serious."
My mother's face turned pale with apprehension.
"I don't think I am," I said. "I don't believe I could part with the
pretty thing. I love it already. Besides, Cousin Geoffrey did not wish
me to sell it."
"Rose, dear, your father doesn't know that Geoffrey left you the ring."
"Very well, mother, I shan't enlighten him."
"I believe that ruby ring is of considerable value," continued my
mother. "I know it well. It belonged to Geoffrey's mother, and was
left to her by an old ancestress, who brought a good deal of money and
considerable misery to the house. Geoffrey's mother would never wear
the ring, but he was fond of it, and had a link made at the back to
fasten it to his watch-chain. I know the large ruby in the middle is
worth a great deal."
All the time my mother was speaking she was going on with that endless
darning which always gave me a sore dull feeling in my heart. If there
is a dismal employment it is darning, and my mother's little delicate
fingers looked as if they were surely never meant for such an ungainly
task.
"I wonder who Cousin Geoffrey has left all his money to?" I said
suddenly. "I wonder if the rightful heirs will appear within the five
years. I certainly should not like any of the relatives to have it."
"I would not think about it, if I were you, Rosamund. We, of course,
are completely out of it."
"I don't know why we should be. You are one of the nearest relations."
"Well, dear, we are out of it, so that ends the matter."
My mother spoke with quite unwonted irritation.
"It was a very curious will," I said after a pause; "very eccentric."
"Geoffrey was always eccentric, Rose, I've told you so scores of times."
"I wish I knew who was the heir," I repeated, getting up restlessly and
standing by the fire. "Mother, have you any messages for me to do in
town to-morrow?"
"In town? Surely, Rosamund, you are not going up to London so soon
again. You have got no money; how can you pay your fare?"
"Yes, I have half-a-sovereign from my last allowance."
"Oh, but that is extravagance."
"I can't help it, mother. I must go to a jeweller to ask him to value
the ring. Oh, no, I shan't sell it, but I cannot rest until I know its
value."
My mother looked vexed, but she knew it was useless to argue with me
when I had fully made up my mind.
"I do not know what girls are made of in these days," she remarked in a
plaintive voice. "They are quite a different order of being from the
girl of eighteen whom I used to know, when I was young. They are
obstinate, and are quite sure to tell their elders every hour of the day
that they know a great deal more about the ways and doings of life than
they do, that they are quite capable of guiding their own actions."
"Mother, you are not angry?" I said suddenly. "Oh no, dear," she
replied at once.
"I cannot help taking my own way, but I love you with all my heart," I
said irrelevantly. "I must take my ring to town and have it valued, but
believe me, I shall do nothing really rash."
"I must trust you, Rose," she said then. "You are a queer girl, but I
have never known you do a really imprudent thing in your life, except on
the rare occasion when you would force yourself on Cousin Geoffrey's
notice."
"Mother dear, was that rash? I have got my beautiful ruby ring."
My mother smiled and said no more. I left the room, knowing that she
would make no opposition to my going to town on the following morning.
When the day broke, I got up early, for I felt too restless to sleep. I
wore my best dress when I came down to breakfast; and when my father and
brothers were ready to start for London, I accompanied them.
On the way up I noticed how ill Jack looked. He had a much nicer face
than George, and I could have been fond of him had he ever shown the
slightest desire to win my regard. But from his babyhood he was
reserved and morose, and shared my father's ideas with regard to women.
Jack was serving his time to a solicitor in the City. At present he was
earning no money, but the happy day when he could add to the family
purse, and so relieve some of the dreadful burden of penury and scanty
living, was not far distant. In two months' time he was to earn
sufficient to pay his weekly mite to the household exchequer.
George, who was three years older than Jack, was doing quite comfortably
as a clerk at Lloyd's, and already spoke of taking a wife, and having a
home of his own. I used to wonder what sort of a girl George would
marry. I must frankly say I did not envy her her husband.
This morning I found myself seated _by_ Jack's side in the railway
carriage.
"How is your headache?" I whispered to him.
He looked round and favoured me with an almost glassy stare. He knew I
spoke to him, but had not heard my question. I repeated it.
"Oh, better, better," he said hurriedly. "Don't speak of it, there's a
good girl," and he lay back against the cushions and closed his eyes.
I felt sure at once it was not better, but it was like Jack to shut
himself out from all sympathy.
We got to Paddington in good time, and I once more found myself in an
omnibus which would convey me to Regent Circus. Presently I got there.
I had made all my plans beforehand. I was a curious mixture of the
practical and romantic, and I thought it best not to rely entirely on
myself in choosing the jeweller who would value my ring. I wanted to
get at the real value, and a jeweller who naturally would suppose I
wished him to be a purchaser, would think it his province to run the
ring down. I knew a girl from our village, who was serving her time now
to a dressmaker in Great Portland Street. The girl's name was Susan
Ford. She had often helped me to turn my dresses, and was a very
sensible, matter-of-fact, honest sort of girl. I knew she would do
anything for me, and as she had been over a year in London, she must
have a tolerably wide experience to guide her.
Regent Circus was only a few steps from Madame Leroy's address. The
house bore the customary brass plate on its door. I pulled the bell,
and a boy in buttons answered my summons.
"Is Susan Ford in?" I asked.
The boy stared at me from head to foot, and made a supercilious and
irrelevant reply.
I saw at once that people who called to see the apprentices must not
expect politeness from the buttons. Nevertheless I held my ground, and
said firmly that I wished to see Susan Ford if she could be spared to
speak to me.
"I'll take up your name, and inquire," Buttons finally condescended to
say.
I said I was Miss Lindley, from Thorpdale. I was then requested to wait
in the hall, where I sat and shivered for quite five minutes. At the
end of that time Susan, jubilant with smiles, joined me.
"Oh, Miss Rosamund, how kind of you! How very kind--I am delighted!"
"Susan, I particularly want to ask your advice. Would it be possible
for you to come out with me for a little?"
"Oh, miss, I'd like to, awfully, but I'm afraid it's against the rules.
Still, it would be a treat to take a walk with you, miss, and Madame
Leroy is very good-natured. I have a good mind to try if she'd spare me
for an hour; we are not particularly full of orders just now."
"All right, Susan, do your best, for I really want your help," I
answered.
Susan nodded and disappeared. In an incredibly short space of time she
returned, wearing a very smart jacket and stylish hat. Oh, how dowdy I
looked by her side!
"I'm just given an hour, Miss Rosamund," she said.
The moment we got into the street I told her what I wanted.
"I have got a curious old ring with me," I said, "very old-fashioned; I
want to find out what it really is worth. Do you know an honest
jeweller who will tell me the truth, Susan?"
Susan's eyes sparkled.
"There's lots of jewellers in Oxford Street, miss," she said.
"I don't wish to go to one of them. They will fancy I want to sell, and
will run my ring down."
"Then," proceeded Susan, "there are men, Jews, most of them, who lend
ornaments to my missis, which she hires out to her ladies."
Susan's eyes shone very brightly when she revealed this little secret to
her country friend.
"Another time you shall tell me more about these jewellers," I replied.
"But they surely would be the least honest of all, and could not help us
to-day. Susan, you must think again."
"I know an apprentice," said Susan. "And he's very clever, and--and--
wonderful on stones, Miss Rosamund."
"Ah, I thought you were the girl for me to come to, Susan. This
apprentice is just the person whom we want. Where does he live?"
"Well, miss, if you'll come with me now we'll catch him just before he
goes to his dinner. Sam is honest, if you like, miss, blunt I call
him."
"Take me to Sam without a moment's delay," I said.
We walked quickly, and presently found ourselves in Hanway Street. We
turned into a small shop. A lad of about twenty was selling a china cup
and saucer to an old lady.
The shop was full of all kinds of dirty, quaint, curious things. It
reminded me a little bit of Cousin Geoffrey's house. The lad had red
hair; he winked at Susan, and I saw at once that I was in the presence
of Sam.
Presently the lady customer left the shop in a considerable huff, and
without the cup and saucer.
"She'll come back fast enough, I've hooked her," said Sam. "The old
'un'll be pleased. I most times hook a couple of customers in the
morning, and the old 'un is always delighted. Your pleasure, ladies?
How do, Susan?"
All the favourable opinion I had formed of Susan Ford was abundantly
verified by her conduct during this interview. Sam examined the ruby
ring from every possible point of view, he squinted frightfully over it.
He turned on the gas, and caused its rays to pierce through the heart
of the gems. They leaped up as if with living fire.
Presently he said that it was his bounden duty to consult the old 'un.
Before I could expostulate he had vanished with the ring into an inner
sanctum. He came back in the course of ten minutes.
"How will you take it, miss?" he said. "In notes or gold?"
For a moment I felt too petrified to speak.
"What do you mean?" I presently gasped. "I don't want to sell the
ring."
"Oh, come now, miss, that's a good 'un! You know better than that.
Don't she, Miss Ford?"
Susan bridled and got very red when she was addressed as Miss Ford.
But, being my staunch friend, she came quickly to the rescue.
"Miss Lindley knows her own mind, Sam," she said severely. "She don't
want to sell the ring, only to value it."
Sam, looking intensely mysterious and amused, darted once more into the
back room.
"I wish he would give me back my ring," I said to Susan.
"Oh, it's all right, you let Sam manage it his own way," retorted Susan.
After what seemed an interminable five minutes, Sam returned. His face
was now quite pale, and his voice had an awe-struck sound about it.
"I never knew anything like it," he said, "never in all my life, but
it's true for all that. The old 'un'll give you one hundred and fifty
pounds for the ring, miss."
I was nineteen years old, and I had never in the whole course of my life
possessed ten pounds at a time. The idea, therefore, of walking out of
that shop with one hundred and fifty pounds in notes and gold, all my
own, my very own, was something of a temptation. Nevertheless I stood
firm.
"I don't mean to sell the ring," I said, "whatever it is valued at. I
know now that it is worth not only one hundred and fifty pounds, but a
considerable sum more. I cannot, however, get the exact value out of
your master, as he wants to become the purchaser. I will, therefore,
say good-morning. Come, Susan." Susan, casting a somewhat withering
glance at Sam, followed me into Hanway Street, and we presently found
ourselves back again at the large house in Great Portland Street.
"Good-bye, miss," said Susan. "I wish with all my heart I could ask you
in, but I can't, and there's an end. I'd be delighted to help you in
any other way, miss, about the ring, and if ever you do want to sell, I
have no doubt Sam and his master will still hold to their offer."
"Yes, but I shall never want to sell my ring," I replied somewhat
proudly. Then I bade Susan a hearty good-bye and returned to Oxford
Street.
I had some idea of calling on Mr Gray, of taking him into my
confidence, of asking him to advise me as to the best means of becoming
a pupil at the Slade School. But I abandoned this idea for the present,
and decided to take the next train home to my mother. Before doing this
I went into Peter Robinson's, and purchased two yards of delicate
pearl-grey ribbon to put in her best cap.
"Sweet, pretty mother!" I said to myself. "How I should like to buy
real Honiton lace to trim that cap, and a pearl-grey silk dress to match
this ribbon; and how I should love to give her the daintiest food and
the most beautiful luxurious home, and to take away that coarse darning,
and that rough horrid mending, and that grinding poverty for ever."
I could do a great deal if I sold Cousin Geoffrey's ring. A great deal,
but not all, and I must not part in a hurry with a legacy which was not
only beautiful, but had such a substantial money-value.
I popped my bit of ribbon, therefore, into my pocket, looked sadly at
the few remaining shillings in my purse, and took the next train back to
Thorpdale.
I arrived at Ivy Lodge in time for an afternoon cup of tea with my
mother. I was very hungry, for I had not ventured on the extravagance
of lunch in town, and while I ate, I regaled her with the account of my
morning's adventures. She was by no means astonished when she heard
that the old Jew dealer had offered me one hundred and fifty pounds for
the ring.
"It is worth a good deal more than that," she said. "I know the centre
ruby has been priced at a very high figure by more than one connoisseur.
Nevertheless, you are not going to sell the ring, are you, Rosamund?"
"It would pay my expenses at the Slade," I said somewhat mischievously.
My mother was about to reply when we were both startled by hearing the
sound of a latch-key in the hall-door lock. I opened the door of the
little drawing-room and peeped out.
"Jack!" I exclaimed. "What has brought you back at this hour?"
"My headache is worse," he replied, "I could not stay in town, so I came
home."
"Oh, I am sorry," I said. "Mother, Jack has come home with a bad
headache."
My mother stepped into the hall.
"You are looking very ill indeed," she exclaimed.
Jack growled in that peculiarly ungracious way which always drove me
wild when it was addressed to our mother.
"I am not ill," he said. "What a fuss women make! I have just got a
beastly headache."
"Come into the drawing-room, and have a cup of tea, my dear boy."
"I could not sit up, thank you, mother. I'll go to my room, and see
what a stretch on the bed and a nap will do for me. If Rosamund likes
to be good-natured, she can bring me up some tea in half an hour."
I did not particularly wish to be good-natured; nevertheless, at the
time specified I took the tea to Jack. He sat up when I entered the
room; there were feverish spots on his cheeks.
"Bother that tea!" he exclaimed. "Put it down, and shut the door,
Rosamund. Now come over, and sit near me. If I don't tell you what is
the matter, I shall go mad."