CHAPTER XV
REBA had attended only one wedding in her life—her Sunday School teacher's, years ago when she was sixteen. It had taken place in the Congregational Church in Ridgefield, and Reba recalled that on that occasion there had been an exchange of rings. Moreover, both her father and mother wore gold bands as a symbol of their marriage. She ought to buy a ring for Nathan, of course! It never would have occurred to her but for the lucky coincidence under the arc-light. She was thankful to have been reminded in time of so important a factor.
She went into a jewelry-shop the next day—a gorgeous place, with a phalanx of such distinguished-looking clerks behind the long plate-glass show-cases that it took about all her courage to address one of them and drained it dry when she found herself forced to explain her errand. She could feel herself pink to the tips of her ears when the young man finally assigned to look out for her (he had polished nails and white slender hands) produced a large tray of gentlemen's rings—wedding-rings, he believed she said, and asked her what size.
"I don't know exactly," she replied, confused, and picked up one of the rings—the largest she could see in one swift glance—and slipped it over her thumb. "I guess this one will do," she said. Anything to escape! "I'll take this one, if you please," she told the young man.
146
