But ere he could reach the bell-rope she had swiftly followed him and laid a detaining hand on his arm.
She had put off the telling of her story from moment to moment, but it had to be told now.
"You need not take the trouble to ring that bell," she said, "for it would be useless—quite useless."
"Why, what do you mean?" he asked, in unfeigned astonishment, thinking that perhaps she meant to forbid him giving the girl the little ring; and he grew nettled at that thought.
He said to himself that he was over one-and-twenty, and was entitled to do as he pleased in such matters.
"Listen, Hubert; I have something to tell you, and you must hear me out. Come and sit on this sofa beside me. I can tell you better then."
"What is the meaning of all this secrecy, mother?" he cried.
"To begin wi
