'And never got him to propose, I mean, papa. Her eyes are handsome, yet they smiled exclusively, for the time, on young Rakes.'
'Violet!'
'One good flirtation, she told me, always led to another.'
'Surely that is not her style,' said Sir Carnaby, with some asperity; 'and I have to request, Miss Violet, that you will not speak in this rough manner of any lady in the position of Miss Desmond.'
This and many similar conversations of the kind now recurred to Clare, and led her to dread her father's questions, and perhaps his lectures, on the subject, and she began to feel sadness and doubt.
From these thoughts she was roused by the entrance of a servant, who said:
'Miss Collingwood, a jeweller's man is here with the jewels from Bond Street for your inspection.'
'The jewels! what jewels? I ordered none,' said Clare.
'He 'ave Sir Carnaby's card, miss,' replied the man, pulling his long whiskers, in imitation of Desmond and others.
The man entered with a mincing step, and bowed very low, announcing the name of the firm he represented, and unlocking a handsome walnut and brass-bound box, took out the morocco cases, and unclasping them, displayed, to the surprise of Clare, three magnificent suites of diamond ornaments, all set in gold and blue enamel, reposing on the whitest of velvet. In each suite were a tiara, pendant ear-rings, and a necklace, each and all worth several thousand pounds.