"I thought I could never forgive, but I believe I do now,--not always,--but I shall after a while."
Allan pressed his lips to the hand he held; then, still holding it, he took the little case from his pocket and put the sapphire ring on her finger. "I hope Cousin Betty will be satisfied now," he remarked.
Celia looked down at the quaint old ring. "How much it seems to stand for!" she said. "Rosalind will be glad," she added. "Do you know, I did not realize how bitter and unhappy I was until I met her one day in the cemetery. Her eyes were so sweet, they made me ashamed."
"Not about the rose? Did she see that? Oh, Allan--but I picked it up again and carried it home."
"She long since came to the conclusion that she was mistaken in thinking it was her rose you threw away."
It was growing dark. The magician, who had come in long ago, wisely refrained from interrupting his guests, but went about putting away his tools and smiling to himself. He was just lighting his lamp, when the shop door opened and Rosalind danced in, followed by her father.
"Mr. Pat!" exclaimed the magician. "I heard you were here. I wondered if you wouldn't come to see me;" and he shook hinds as if he would never stop, while Rosalind circled around them merrily.
"Mr. Pat was one of my boys," Morgan announced, as if it were a piece of news; adding, "We ought to make some tea."
Rosalind clapped her hands, and nodded emphatically, "Let's!" she cried. "Why, there's Uncle Allan! Where did you come from?"
"I arrived at home a few hours ago and found nobody, so I started out in search of some one. How are you, Patterson?" and the brothers clasped hands warmly.
"We are going to have tea, just as I did that day when I was so lonely, and--here's Miss Celia!" Rosalind paused in surprise.
Celia stood rather shyly in the door. She would gladly have escaped if she could.
At Rosalind's exclamation, Allan drew his brother forward. "You remember Celia Fair, Patterson?" he said.
"Certainly I do. She was about Rosalind's age when I last saw her."
"I remember you very well, Mr. Whittredge," Celia said, as Patterson took both her hands, and looked into her glowing face.
"I haven't been told anything, but--" he glanced inquiringly at Allan, who nodded, smiling.