"Good-morning, Gordon. I am very glad to see you. How is Clara?"
"Quite well, thank you, and entirely absorbed in preparations for her party, as you will infer from this note, which she charged me to deliver in person, and for which I here pray your most favorable consideration."
As Mrs. Murray glanced over the note Edna turned to leave the room; but Mr. Leigh exclaimed: "Do not go just yet, I wish Mrs. Murray to decide a matter for me."
"Well, Gordon, what is it?"
"First, do you grant my sister's petition?"
"Certainly, I will bring Edna with me to-night, unless she prefers staying at home with her books. You know I let her do pretty much as she pleases."
"Now then for my little quarrel! Here is a curious old ring, which she will appreciate more highly than any one else whom I happen to know, and I want her to accept it as a birthday memento from me, but a few minutes ago she refused to wear it. Can you not come to my assistance, my dear Mrs. Murray?"
She took the ring, examined it, and said, after a pause: "I think, Gordon, that she did exactly right; but I also think that now, with my approval and advice, she need not hesitate to wear it henceforth, as a token of your friendship. Edna, hold out your hand, my dear."
The ring was slipped on the slender finger, and as she released her hand, Mrs. Murray bent down and kissed her forehead.
"Seventeen to-day! My child, I can scarcely believe it! And you-- Gordon? May I ask how old you are?"
"Twenty-five--I grieve to say! You need not tell me--"
The conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the breakfast bell, and soon after, Mr. Leigh took his departure.
Edna felt puzzled and annoyed, and as she looked down at the ring she thought that instead of "Peace be with thee," the Semitic characters must surely mean, "Disquiet seize thee!" for they had shivered the beautiful calm of her girlish nature, and thrust into her mind ideas unknown until that day. Going to her own room, she opened her books, but ere she could fix her wandering thoughts Mrs. Murray entered.
"Edna, I came to speak to you about your dress for to-night."
"Please do not say that you wish me to go, my dear Mrs. Murray, for I dread the very thought."
"But I must tell you that I insist upon your conforming to the usages of good society. Mrs. Inge belongs to one of the very first families in the State; at her house you will meet the best people, and you could not possibly make your debut under more favorable circumstances. Beside, it is very unnatural that a young girl should not enjoy parties and the society of gay young people. You are very unnecessarily making a recluse of yourself, and I shall not permit you to refuse such an invitation as Mrs. Inge has sent. It would be rude in the extreme."