"It is quite ready, miss; I was just about to send it down."
He brought forward the double loving-cup that Lionel had given to Nina;
and as the young lady took it into her hands she glanced at the rim.
Yes; the inscription was quite right: "_From Leo to Nina_"--that was
the simple legend she had had engraved.
"Here is the cup I spoke of, Estelle; is it not beautiful? And then I
would not trouble Lionel to have the inscription made--I told him I
would have it done myself and asked him what the words should be--behold
it!"
The cup was duly admired and handed back to be sent down to Sloane
Street; then Estelle and she left the shop together.
"Oh, yes, it is very beautiful," said the former, continuing to speak in
her native tongue, "and a very distinguished present; but there is
something still more piquant that he will be buying for you ere
long--can you not guess, Nina?--no?--not a wedding-ring?"
The audacity of the question somewhat disconcerted Nina; but she met it
with no sham denial, no affected protest.
"He has not spoken to me, Estelle," Nina said, gravely and simply, "And
sometimes I ask myself if it is not better we should remain as we
are--we are such good friends and companions.
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