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Shewasstillthinkingofthetendollarshehadhandedtothedriveroftherun-about.Ithadgiventhemtwentyminutesofpleasure,anditseemedunimaginablethatanyoneshouldbeabletobuyamusementatthatrate.Withtendollarshemighthaveboughtheranengagementring;sheknewthatMrs.TomFry’s,whichcamefromSpringfield,andhadadiamondinit,hadcostonlyeightseventy-five.Butshedidnotknowwhythethoughthadoccurredtoher.Harneywouldneverbuyheranengagementring:theywerefriendsandcomrades,butnomore.Hehadbeenperfectlyfairtoher:hehadneversaidawordtomisleadher.Shewonderedwhatthegirlwaslikewhosehandwaswaitingforhisring....
BoatswerebeginningtothickenontheLakeandtheclangofincessantlyarrivingtrolleysannouncedthereturnofthecrowdsfromtheball-field.Theshadowslengthenedacrossthepearl-greywaterandtwowhitecloudsnearthesunwereturninggolden.Ontheoppositeshoremenwerehammeringhastilyatawoodenscaffoldinginafield.Charityaskedwhatitwasfor.
“Why,thefireworks.Isupposethere’llbeabigshow.”Harneylookedatherandasmilecreptintohismoodyeyes.“Haveyouneverseenanygoodfireworks?”
“MissHatchardalwayssendsuplovelyrocketsontheFourth,”sheanswereddoubtfully.
“Oh——”hiscontemptwasunbounded.“Imeanabigperformancelikethis,illuminatedboats,andalltherest.”
Sheflushedatthepicture.“DotheysendthemupfromtheLake,too?”
“Rather.
