There was no more sleep for Capitola. She heard the clock strike
four, and was pleased to find that it was so near day. Still the
time seemed very long to her, who lay there wondering, conjecturing
and speculating on the strange adventure of the night.
When the sun arose she left her restless bed, bathed her excited
head and proceeded to dress herself. When she had finished her
toilet, with the exception of putting on her trinkets, she suddenly
missed a ring that she prized more than she did all her possessions
put together--it was a plain gold band, bearing the inscription
Capitola-Eugene, and which she had been enjoined by her old nurse
never to part from but with life. She had, in her days of
destitution suffered the extremes of cold and hunger; had been upon
the very brink of death from starvation or freezing, but without
ever dreaming of sacrificing her ring. And now for the first time it
was missing. While she was still looking anxiously for the lost
jewel the door opened and Dorcas Knight entered the room, bearing on
her arm Capitola's riding dress, which had been well dried and
ironed.
"Miss Capitola, here is your habit; you had better put it on at
once, as I have ordered breakfast an hour sooner than usual, so that
you may have an early start."
"Upon my word, you are very anxious to get rid of me, but not more
so than I am to depart," said Capitola, still pursuing her search.
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