“You can do anything you like in the way of fire by-and-by. I have a diamond here. Shall I show it to you?”
“Oh, law, Miss, I’m sure you are condescending.”
“Come over close to the paraffin lamp. Now you shall see. Doesn’t it sparkle!”
Mrs. Ricketts dropped a curtsey to the gem, which, unpolished as it was, cast forth strange reflections, giving her, as she afterwards explained, a “queer feel” and a sense of chill down the marrow of her back.
“This is very valuable,” said Flower. “I don’t know what it is worth, but my father gave it to my mother, and she gave it to me. She said it would be well for me to have it in case of emergency. Emergency has come, and I want to sell this stone. It is very likely that whoever buys it from me will become rich. Would you like it? You shall have it for what money you have in the house.”
“Oh, law, Miss! but I’m a very poor woman, Miss.”
Mrs. Ricketts curtseyed again, and drew closer. “For all the world, it looks as if it were alive, Miss.”
“All valuable diamonds look as if they lived. If this were cut and polished it would dazzle you.”
“And if I had it, I could sell it for a good bit of money?”
“I am sure you could. I don’t know for how much, but for more than I am likely to get from you.”