"Kate sat down on the stump as I directed; but her manner had become languid and indifferent; the brightness and sparkle of her late mood were gone. As she looked up at me, her level eyebrows were slightly contracted, and the corners of her mouth drooped. Her hands were folded listlessly in her lap. She was dressed in some soft white material, through which was visible the warm gleam of her arms and shoulders; the skirt was caught up in such a way as to allow freedom in walking; she wore a broad-brimmed white hat over her black hair; a yellow sash confined her waist, and her hands were bare. I untied the ribbons of her hat, she permitting me to do so without resistance; and then, kneeling before her, I unbuttoned the diamonds from my pocket, and laid them, in their case, upon her lap.
"'Now, dear, shall I put them on you, or will you do it yourself?'
"She opened the case, and the gems flashed in the checkered sunshine that filtered down between the leaves of the trees. The sight seemed to rouse her somewhat; a faint spot of colour showed in either cheek, and she drew in a long breath.
"'They are splendid!' she said. 'I never saw anything like them. No, your mother would need to die before giving up these.'
"'They won't look their best until you have put them on. Come!'
"'What if someone were to come and see----'
"'Nonsense, my darling! There's no one within half a mile of us; and if there were, they would only see a lovely girl looking her loveliest.'
"'How nicely you talk to me! Well then--you put them on me. I won't touch them myself.'
"The parure consisted of a necklace and a pair of earrings. I lifted them, flashing, from the case; clasped the necklace round her throat, she sitting motionless, and hung the earrings in her ears. A light, that matched their marvellous gleam, seemed to enter into her eyes as I did so.
"'You and these diamonds were made for each other!' I said; and bending forwards, I kissed her on the lips.
"For more than a minute she sat there quite still, I kneeling in front of her; we were looking straight into one another's eyes. Then, all at once, a troubled anxious look came into her face. She rose with a startled gesture to her feet.
"'What's the matter?' cried I, jumping up in surprise.