"And you know I am to be married next month; and Aunt Alice in Dublin, who is getting my things, says as it is to be a winter wedding I am to be married in a white frisé velvet, and I did think the diamonds would have looked so lovely with it. Wouldn't they?"
I agreed, of course.
"But I shall never be married in them now," she said, with a deep sigh. "And I was looking forward to the wedding so much, though I dare say I did tell a naughty little story when I said I was not to Ralph the other night. Of course Ralph is still left," she added, as an after-thought; "but it won't be so perfect, will it?"
I was morally certain Charles would have to give them up, so I said, reassuringly:
"Perhaps you may be married in them, after all."
"Oh!" she said, clasping her hands together, "do you really think so? Do you know anything? I have not seen Ralph since to ask him about it. Do you think we shall really get them back?"
"I should not wonder."
"Oh, Colonel Middleton, I see you know. You are a clever, wise man, and you have found out something. Who is it? Do tell me!"
"Will you promise not to tell any one?"
"Mayn't I tell Ralph? I tell him everything."