I had a shy reluctance to let him
know I carried it there.
"By the way," I said, "I believe I have a jewel of yours. I found it in
the wood."
His eyes lightened and darkened in a way that was peculiar to him and
his cheek flushed.
"You have found the miniature?" he said, in great excitement. "I was
heartbroken for the loss of it. Have you got it with you?"
He had stretched out his hand as though he expected his recovered
treasure to be handed to him at once, and I could not deny that I had
it, so I took it from about my neck, murmuring something about having
carried it for safety and that the case was at Aghadoe and should be
returned to him.
"I thought you were gone to the ends of the earth," I said lamely; "and
I was so afraid that I might lose it before I should have a chance of
returning it."
He took it gently and looked at it for a second. Then he kissed it.
"Why, it is warm from its resting-place," he said, "and so the dearer."
And then he took it off from its little chain and placed it in an inner
pocket of his coat, handing me back the chain.
"Maybe you'd like to see what picture it was that made me a trespasser,"
he said, with a suddenly reckless air.
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