If I gave it to you it would be tempting you to sin.' He sat down again and looked at her with wonder in his soft brown eyes.
'You have had the stone taken out,' he said, 'and set in a ring.' 'Yes, and I have given it to my daughter, so that it is no longer mine to return to you.

You must be aware that the marble cross stone I set up over your sister's grave cost me much more than the value of this stone.
I am very much surprised that you should ask me to give it back.

Surely any real feeling of gratitude for what I did for her would prompt you to be glad that you have something to give me in return.' She paused, then harped again upon the other string.

'But under any circumstances I could not feel justified in giving you anything that you would put to a bad use.' 'That you have stolen my property does not make it yours to withhold, whatever may be your sentiments concerning it.' '"Stolen!" I do not understand you when you use such a word.

Do you think it possible that I should steal?
I took the chain from your sister's neck with the highest motives.