Royson noticed instantly she was wearing a beautiful marquise ring on
the middle finger of her left hand. The rules which govern the use of
these baubles were beyond his ken. A plain gold ring on a lady's so-
called fourth finger is a marriage token known to all men, but he had
not the ghost of an idea where an engagement ring should be carried,
and he jumped to the conclusion that the girl was wearing one. Why had
he never seen it before, he wondered? Was it a hint, a reminder of the
conventions? It is probable that Irene herself would have been
surprised if she were told that it was once the custom for engaged
young ladies to reveal their happiness by displaying a ring on the
middle finger, while those who were free but prepared to wed might
coyly announce the fact by a ring on the index finger. Be that as it
may, Royson was dumfounded by the sight of the glistening diamonds.
They winked at him evilly, and his tongue tripped:
"I cannot tell you how sorry I am," he murmured thickly, Irene dropped
her hands.
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