"I made her put it on," I heard Captain Cromer say. "She is such a
foolish little person. She doesn't take half enough care of
herself"--and I knew that I could learn to love that man, that I was
doing a crazy thing, and I was going to go on with it.
*III*
When I am with people I feel as if I am a fairy princess taking part in
a fairy play, a wonderful and desirable and adorable person. It is a
perfectly marvellous feeling; and when I am alone with Cheneston I feel
as if he switched the limelight off with an impatient hand, and I was
just a plain, shabby, silly kid.
He has bought me an engagement ring--for the six weeks before he goes to
the front.
"Let us be as beastly orthodox as possible," he said as he popped it on.
"Why don't you look after your nails--you've got decent hands."
"What shall I do with it when----"
"When you write and break off the engagement! Oh! keep it if you like."
It is a platinum set with one glorious ruby, an enormous stone. You
could almost warm yourself by the red there is in it.