care! I care very much! You know I will tell you the instant I feel right about it."
"Certainly you will," agreed Ammon promptly. "It Is your right to take all the time you choose. I can't put that ring on you until it means a bond between us. I'll shut my eyes and you try It on, so we can see if it fits and looks well."
Philip turned his face toward the west woods and tightly closed his eyes. It was a boyish thing to do, and it caught the hesitating girl in the depths of her heart as the boy element in a man ever appeals to a motherly woman. Before she quite realized what she was doing, the ring slid on her finger. With both arms she caught Ammon and drew him to her breast, holding him closely. Her head drooped over his, her lips were on his hair. So an instant, then her arms dropped. Ammon lifted a convulsed, white face.
"Dear Lord!" he whispered. "You—you didn't mean that, Elnora! You What made you do it?"
"You—you looked so boyish!" panted Elnora, "I didn't mean it! I—I forgot that you were older than Billy. Look—look at the ring!"
She thrust her hand before him to distract his attention.
"'The Queen can do no wrong,'" quoted Ammon between his set teeth. "But don't you do that again, Elnora, unless you do mean it. Kings are not so good as queens, and there is a limit with all men. As you say, we will look at your ring. It seems very lovely to me. Suppose you leave it on until time for me to go. Please
