The diamonds gleamed and flashed at her as she moved the ring up and down her finger.
"We can easily make it smaller, to fit your finger," said the jeweller's assistant.
"It really is beautiful. Look, Francis," said Lady Isabel.
Alex' father put up his glasses, and after inspection he also exclaimed:
"Beautiful."
"You've such little fingers, dear, it'll have to be made smaller," said Mrs. Cardew graciously.
"Is it to be that one, then?" Lady Isabel asked.
Alex saw that her mother's pretty, youthful-looking flush of pleasurable excitement had mounted to her face. She herself, conscious of an inexplicable oppression, felt tongue-tied, and unable to do more than repeat foolishly and lifelessly:
"Oh, it's lovely, it's perfectly lovely. It's too beautiful."
Noel, however, looked gratified at the words of admiration.