It was very old and old-fashioned , but Jims did not know that . He capered round her in delight . `` You like me better in this ? '' she asked , wistfully . `` I like you just as well , no matter what you wear , '' said Jims , `` but that dress is awfully pretty . '' `` Would you like me to wear bright colors , Jims ? '' `` You bet I would , '' said Jims emphatically . After that she always wore them -- pink and primrose and blue and white ; and she let Jims wreathe flowers in her splendid hair . He had quite a knack of it . She never wore any jewelry except , always , a little gold ring with a design of two clasped hands . `` A friend gave that to me long ago when we were boy and girl together at school , '' she told Jims once . `` I never take it off , night or day . When I die it is to be buried with me . '' `` You must n't die till I do , '' said Jims in dismay . `` Oh , Jims , if we could only live together nothing else would matter , '' she said hungrily . `` Jims -- Jims -- I see so little of you really -- and some day soon you 'll be going to school -- and I 'll lose you . '' `` I 've got to think of some way to prevent it , '' cried Jims . `` I wo n't have it . I wo n't -- I wo n't . '' But his heart sank notwithstanding .
One day Jims slipped from the blue room , down the pine and across the lawn XXXXX a tear-stained face .
After except if in like of that till to with