I have seen my pearls once already on
her neck, and know the effect."
A wish of Grace's aided my application, and Emily placed the ornaments
around her throat. The dazzling whiteness of her skin gave a lustre to
the pearls that they certainly did not previously possess. One
scarcely knew which to admire the most--the ornaments, or their
setting.
"How very, very beautiful they are _now!_" cried Lucy, in
generous admiration. "Oh! Miss Merton, pearls should ever be your
ornaments."
"_Those_ pearls, you mean, Lucy," put in Rupert, who was always
extremely liberal with other people's means; "the necklace ought never
to be removed."
"Miss Merton knows their destination," I said, gallantly, "and the
terms of ownership."
Emily slowly undid the clasp, placed the string before her eyes, and
looked at it long and silently.
"And what is this destination, Miles? What these terms of ownership?"
my sister asked.
"Of course he means them for you, dear," Lucy remarked in haste. "For
whom else can he intend such an ornament?"
"You are mistaken, Miss Hardinge. Grace must excuse me for being a
little selfish this time, at least. I do not intend those pearls for
Miss Wallingford, but for Mrs. Wallingford, should there ever be such
a person."
"Upon my word, such a double temptation, my boy, I Wonder Miss Merton
ever had the fortitude to remove them from the enviable position they
so lately occupied," cried Rupert, glancing meaningly towards Emily,
who returned the look with a slight smile.
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