'Eh?' said Mr Pickering, dazedly.
He looked at what she had in her hand, but it conveyed nothing to
his overwrought mind.
'Take it!'
'Eh?'
Claire stamped.
'Very well,' she said.
She flung something on the ground before him--a small, sparkling
object. Then she swept away, his eyes following her, and was lost
in the darkness of the trees. Mechanically Mr Pickering stooped to
pick up what she had let fall. He recognized it now. It was her
engagement ring.
19
Bill leaned his back against the gate that separated the grounds of
the bee-farm from the high road and mused pleasantly. He was alone.
Elizabeth was walking up the drive on her way to the house to tell
the news to Nutty. James, the cat, who had come down from the roof
of the outhouse, was sharpening his claws on a neighbouring tree.
After the whirl of excitement that had been his portion for the past
few hours, the peace of it all appealed strongly to Bill. It suited
the mood of quiet happiness which was upon him.
Quietly happy, that was how he felt now that it was all over. The
white heat of emotion had subsided to a gentle glow of contentment
conducive to thought. He thought tenderly of Elizabeth. She had
turned to wave her hand before going into the house, and he was
still smiling fatuously.
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